Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Multicultural Counseling Ethics and Assessment Training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program designed to enhance the multicultural competence of practicing rehabilitation counselors in the areas of ethical and assessment issues. To assess these areas, the Multicultural Counseling Ethics and Assessment Competency Scale (MCEACS) was developed as a part of the study. The MCEACS in its final form was a 17-item scale that demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of .92. Furthermore, it demonstrated a moderate relationship with the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey (MAKSS) and was sensitive to counselor change as a pre- and post-test measure. Results of the evaluation of the multicultural training program indicated consistent positive changes from pre- to post-tests. It is evident that even a brief training can have a measurable effect on rehabilitation counselors' multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills.