The Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County (WSP) is committed to the concept of cultural competency for all of its constituents, whether they be staff, clients or community members. The agency engages in continuous quality improvement practices, examining quarterly client survey feedback. Based on data collected during the most recent fiscal year, over 98% of agency clients have indicated that the services they received were respectful and supportive of their belief systems, sexual orientation, race, age, cultural background and ability/disability status. Other written and verbal feedback provided by clients has also reinforced these sentiments.
In 2008, the agency adopted a formal “Cultural and Linguistic Competency Policy” expressing the agency’s commitment to ensuring that services remain accessible and effective. Since then, the agency has convened a regularly scheduled Cultural Competency Advisory Committee to examine the effectiveness of current services and to explore ways to be more responsive to the needs of underserved populations in our community.
