Organizational Cultural Competence

Abstract

Cavin, a 42-year-old African American man, arrived at a well-known private substance abuse treatment center confused and unable to provide his medical history at intake. Referred to the center through his employee assistance program, he was accompanied by his spouse and 14-year-old son. Cavin's wife provided his medical history and recounted her husband's 2-year decline from a promising career as a journalist, researcher, and social commentator to a bitter, often paranoid man who abused cocaine and alcohol. Cavin, she explained, had become increasingly unpredictable.