ABSTRACT
We have been stressing the need for cultural competency as the appropriate means to address health and human services to minorities. We would, however, like to stress that cultural competency may be interpreted as just another fashionable method to market and reach certain ethnic populations and groups. Some of us may even debate what “competency” in a culture really is. We also have questions about what makes someone culturally competent, who decides what competency is, and who decides when someone is culturally competent. These are very important questions that many minorities, especially Latinos, are asking and need answered. If we are to provide true education, disease prevention, and social, health, and human services, issues on culturally based services must be decided with the direct input of minorities.
