Second Annual Cultural Competence Summit (March 2007)
The Second Annual Cultural Competence Summit, moderated by Lauren Josephs, PhD, Central FL Partnership on Health Disparities, included a panel of experts from a variety of sectors:
- Maria Grulich, Director
Osceola County Economic Development Department
- Tony Jenkins, Market President Central Florida Region/Vice President
of Cultural Competence and Diversity Systems
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
- Jim Shanks, CEO & President
Park Place Behavioral Healthcare
- Karen Van Caulil, PhD, Executive Director
Health Council of East Central Florida
- Deanna Washington, MD, MPH, FAAP, Former Director
Office of Minority Health
- Silvia Zapico, PhD, Provost
Valencia Community College, Osceola Campus
The Summit's aim was to show how various sectors are impacted by the changing demographics of Osceola County and the necessity to provide culturally competent services.
Maternal and Child Health - Public Education Campaign
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), huge racial and ethnic disparities exist in the area of maternal and child health. In fact, the risk of dying from complications of pregnancy is almost four times greater for African-American women than for white women; but many are unaware of these disparities.
Through a recent grant from the Seminole County Healthy Start Coalition, the CFPHD is conducting a grassroots public education campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of pre-conception health, and prenatal and postnatal care. The Communication/Education Committee of the CFPHD is facilitating the project, primarily targeting churches with high populations of African Americans. The campaign will cover topics such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), preconception care, smoking during pregnancy, nutrition, the importance of folic acid, and more.
Interpreter Training to Address Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in Orange and Osceola Counties
Orange and Osceola Counties have large numbers of residents who speak a language other than English at home. In Orange County, they comprise 31.7 percent of the population and in Osceola County over 42.1 percent and rising. Some areas of the Osceola have even higher concentrations, such as Kissimmee, where 45 percent of of its residents do not speak English. Limited resources and a lack of knowledge challenge numerous health care providers in caring for these individuals. In response, the Center for Health Futures, a member of the CFPHD, provided the following services in the county:
- Interpreter Training of Trainers (February 2007) – Previously trained Osceola County community interpreters were trained and certified to teach the 40-hour interpreter training program for bilingual staff.
- Cultural Competence Training for Case Managers (September 2006) – Case managers, social workers, counselors, nurses, and other Osceola County social services providers participated in an introduction course in cultural competence training specifically for case managers, taught by Lauren Josephs, PhD.
- Interpreter Training (January, February 2006) – Bilingual individuals from Osceola County agencies completed the 40-hour Interpreter Training Program, taught by lead certified trainer, Alberto De La Cruz.
- Interpreter Training of Trainers (December 2004) – Previously trained Orange County community interpreters were trained and certified to teach the 40-hour interpreter training program for bilingual staff.
- Interpreter Training (October 2004) – Bilingual individuals from Orange County agencies completed the 40-hour Interpreter Training Program, taught by lead certified trainer, Marjory Bancroff.
First Annual Cultural Competence Summit (December 2005)
To ensure that social service providers, organizational leaders and health care professionals are adequately prepared to adapt their service delivery to reflect an understanding of the importance of cultural competency, Community Vision sponsored the county’s first Cultural Competence Summit. This historic and important summit brought together leaders and staff in all areas of service provision to address the growing challenge in meeting the communication and cultural needs of Osceola County’s diverse population. The Keynote speakers for this summit were former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Marilyn Hughes Gaston, MD and Gayle Porter, PsyD.
Assessment of Cultural Competence and Language Needs in Osceola and Orange Counties (2004, 2005)
The CFPHD was engaged by the Osceola County Community Access Program, Osceola County Health Department, and the Community Vision Health Access Program (CV-HAP) to assess the needs and resources available to Osceola county’s limited English proficient (LEP) residents and to work with health care and social service organizations in the county to design and implement strategies to improve communication with LEP clients.
A provider assessment survey to identify interpretation, translation, and cultural competency needs among Osceola County health and social service providers was adopted and administered in 2005 based on a survey successfully used for a similar purpose in Orange County, Florida. This survey elicited critical information from service providers and indicated the need to, among other things:
- Identify and implement a community interpreter-training program
- Develop a cadre of community interpreter trainers
- Provide cultural competence training to providers
Translation of Vital and Educational Documents
The CFPHD has coordinated the translation of vital patient documents and patient education materials to Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese and Portuguese.
|
