TY - JOUR
T1 - Veteran Cultural Competence Training
T2 - Initial Effectiveness and National-Level Implementation
AU - Geraci, Joseph C.
AU - Edwards, Emily R.
AU - May, David
AU - Halliday, Tiffany
AU - Smith-Isabell, Natesha
AU - El-Meouchy, Paul
AU - Lowell, Sarah
AU - Armstrong, Nicholas
AU - Cantor, Gilly
AU - DeJesus, Chris
AU - Dichiara, Ariana
AU - Goodman, Marianne
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Because service professionals often lack cultural competence in working with veterans, veterans often perceive such professionals as "not understanding." The authors developed, evaluated, and implemented Veteran Cultural Competence Training (VCCT), combining educational and experiential components in an in-person training focused on building awareness, knowledge, and skills to better work with veterans. METHODS: Study 1 was a type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial examining VCCT effectiveness in a sample of social service professionals (N=41) compared with a matched comparison group (N=41) via the Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale-Veteran Form (MCSE-V) instrument. In study 2, the authors used the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to conduct a type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial and implemented VCCT with an expanded population (N=312) during eight training sessions in three U.S. states. RESULTS: Results from study 1 indicated that VCCT significantly increased self-efficacy of trainees in veteran cultural competence compared with the matched group (p<0.001). In study 2, the RE-AIM framework highlighted the importance of building coalitions and utilizing implementation facilitation to maintain fidelity. The within-group effectiveness of VCCT was statistically significant and maintained across settings and professions (p<0.001), and trainees were satisfied with VCCT. Maintenance analysis revealed expansion of VCCT after implementation in terms of the number of training sessions (N=9), regions hosting the training (N=5), staff hired (N=13), and trainee applications (N=1,018). CONCLUSIONS: VCCT effectively increases self-efficacy in veteran cultural competence. Gains appeared across different professions, demographic characteristics, and locations. Participation in VCCT may increase professionals' competence in understanding veteran culture, thereby potentially improving veteran services.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Because service professionals often lack cultural competence in working with veterans, veterans often perceive such professionals as "not understanding." The authors developed, evaluated, and implemented Veteran Cultural Competence Training (VCCT), combining educational and experiential components in an in-person training focused on building awareness, knowledge, and skills to better work with veterans. METHODS: Study 1 was a type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial examining VCCT effectiveness in a sample of social service professionals (N=41) compared with a matched comparison group (N=41) via the Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale-Veteran Form (MCSE-V) instrument. In study 2, the authors used the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to conduct a type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial and implemented VCCT with an expanded population (N=312) during eight training sessions in three U.S. states. RESULTS: Results from study 1 indicated that VCCT significantly increased self-efficacy of trainees in veteran cultural competence compared with the matched group (p<0.001). In study 2, the RE-AIM framework highlighted the importance of building coalitions and utilizing implementation facilitation to maintain fidelity. The within-group effectiveness of VCCT was statistically significant and maintained across settings and professions (p<0.001), and trainees were satisfied with VCCT. Maintenance analysis revealed expansion of VCCT after implementation in terms of the number of training sessions (N=9), regions hosting the training (N=5), staff hired (N=13), and trainee applications (N=1,018). CONCLUSIONS: VCCT effectively increases self-efficacy in veteran cultural competence. Gains appeared across different professions, demographic characteristics, and locations. Participation in VCCT may increase professionals' competence in understanding veteran culture, thereby potentially improving veteran services.
KW - Competence training
KW - Continuing education
KW - Cultural competence
KW - Military veterans
KW - Veteran cultural self-efficacy
KW - Veterans’ issues
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85181396364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.202100437
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.202100437
M3 - Article
C2 - 37554004
AN - SCOPUS:85181396364
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 75
SP - 32
EP - 39
JO - Psychiatric Services
JF - Psychiatric Services
IS - 1
ER -