Increasing Culturally Competent Neuropsychological Services for Ethnic Minority Populations: A Call to Action

Abstract

US demographic and sociopolitical shifts have resulted in a rapidly growing need for culturally competent neuropsychological services. However, clinical neuropsychology as a field has not kept pace with the needs of ethnic minority clients. In this discussion we review: historical precedents and the limits of universalism in neuropsychology; ethical/professional guidelines pertinent to neuropsychological practice with ethnic minority clients; critical cultural considerations in neuropsychology; current disparities germane to practice; and challenges to the provision of services to racial/ethnic minority clients. We provide a call to action for neuropsychologists and related organizations to advance multiculturalism and diversity within the field by increasing multicultural awareness and knowledge, multicultural education and training, multicultural neuropsychological research, and the provision of culturally competent neuropsychological services to racial/ethnic minority clients. Lastly, we discuss strategies for increasing the provision of culturally competent neuropsychological services, and offer several resources to meet these goals.

Keywords:

• Ethnic minority
• Cultural competence
• Diversity
• Neuropsychology

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Laura Howe for her guidance and editorial assistance with this manuscript. This work was in part supported by grant 1K23MH07 971 801 (PI: M. Rivera Mindt) from the National Institutes of Health and an Early Career Development Award (to MRM) from the Northeast Consortium for Minority Faculty Development.