ABSTRACT

Culture plays an important role in evaluation, especially since evaluation is about finding value, and values are inherently linked to culture. Cultural competence in evaluation is about respect, empowerment, transformation, social justice, equity, and meaning. Culture encompasses individual factors including race, ethnicity, religion, language, sexual orientation, age, and gender of rural America. Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards are based on the principle that services are responsive to the cultural health beliefs, practices, preferred language, health literacy, and communication needs of a diverse population or culture. African American populations represent a culturally distinct population in rural America. The African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) developed guidelines for evaluators working with African countries, but these guidelines also apply to evaluation in the United States. Multicultural populations in rural America present a unique challenge for evaluators as they strive for cultural competence.