How does the Nassau County Family Support System of Care (NC-FSS) address Cultural Competence?
In an effort to increase the cultural and linguistic competence capacity of service providers in Nassau County, the Nassau County Family Support System of Care offers Nassau County Agencies the following services free of charge:
Cultural Competence Assessments with a tailored Cultural Competence Plan of Action
At an organization’s request, the NC-FSS will come on site and conduct cultural competence assessments in the following areas; organizational level, practitioner level and/or a physical site assessment. A written report detailing the strengths and needs of the organization and follow up consultation with informational resources and referrals will be offered free of charge.
If you are interested in a cultural competence assessment, please contact our Director of Cultural and Linguistic Competence at CLCC@Lift4Kids.org.
NC-FSS also offers:
1. On site trainings
At an organization’s request, the NC-FSS Director of Cultural and Linguistic Competence can come on site and conduct trainings in 90 minute, 3 hour and/or full day increments. Trainings topics include but are not limited to:
- What is Cultural and Linguistic Competence? Beginning the Journey
This training seeks to increase practitioner cultural competence through discussions on the specifics of cultural competence and the provision of specific concrete and conceptual tools to use in practice.
- The Six Fundamental Patterns of Cross-Cultural Differences
This training seeks to address cross cultural misunderstandings through enhancing our understanding of how culture influences the ways in which we interact in the world.
- In Treatment Planning Does One Size Fit All? Cross Cultural Differences in Help Seeking Behaviors
This training sets the foundation for the understanding that different cultural groups seek to solve their problems in different ways.
- Cross Cultural Differences in the Expression of Mental Illness
In our professional training, we are often taught classical presentations
of mental illness. In this training, we will discuss the ways in which culture influences the expression of mental illness in order to increase the capacity of practitioners to accurately diagnose and treat.
- Cultural Awareness and Self Discovery
A closer look at ones’ own culture and how it influences one’s values,
world view and decision-making. This training is interactive and serves to increase our own self-awareness.
- Micro-aggressions: What are the Ways in Which We Unknowingly Offend and Marginalize Minority Cultural Groups?
At times we unknowingly offend and exclude certain populations in ways that we are unaware. In this training we will identify the ways in which we do that and look at techniques to prevent further offenses.
2. Diversity Dialogues
Cultural Competence is an ongoing developmental process. To meet this ongoing need, the NC-FSS offers monthly Diversity Dialogues to provide a forum for ongoing education and conversations on issues pertaining to diversity. With the aim of increasing the cultural knowledge, improving skills and heightening cultural awareness, speakers are brought in on a monthly basis. These dialogues are interactive and last 90 minutes. Previous topics include:
- The Six Fundamental Patterns of Cross Cultural Differences
- Working with LGBT Youth
- The Immigrant Paradox: A Closer look at Latin American Youth & Academic Achievement
- Family Context Changes as a Result of Immigration & How it impacts Individual & Family Functioning
- The Danger of Telling One Story: Stereotyping
- Learning From Inside Out: Working with Youth in Non-Traditional, Culturally Sensitive Ways
If you would like to know when the next Diversity Dialogue is, please check our calendar and/or email us at CLCC@Lift4Kids.org for more information.
3. Cultural Competence Work Group
The Cultural Competence Work Group is made up of a diverse group of agency partners, family members, youth, community members and other cultural representatives. This group focuses on building the cultural competence capacity of child serving systems in Nassau County.
This Work Group is guided by a work plan developed from the input of Work Group members, evaluation input from families, Nassau County Service providers, and the results of a NC-FSS cultural competence needs assessment.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this Work Group, please see our calendar for the next meeting. Also contact us at CLCC@LIft4Kids.org for more information.
4. Information and Resources
In seeking to further the discussion of cultural competence and increasing our understanding of issues of diversity, below are resources and referrals available on a regular basis.
1. Articles, blogs and newspaper stories are posted via the NC-FSS webpage on the LIFT website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
Friend us at: http://www.facebook.com/LIFT4KIDS or Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LIFT4KIDS
2. A resource section is provided on this webpage with resources as well as a section entitled,http://www.lift4kids.org/clc/clc_answers.html"> Answers to Your Cultural Competence Questions.
3. Written materials are available for distribution upon request, free of charge. All materials have the aim of providing both concrete and conceptual tools to increase the capacity of service providers to meet the needs of diverse families.
4. Nassau County Agencies are offered individual and group consultations when providers need additional assistance in modifying their practice to meet the needs of the individuals and families they serve.
5. Practitioners are welcome to become a part of the Cultural & Linguistic Competence Community of Practice for a monthly opportunity to call in and discuss Cultural and Linguistic Competence successes and challenges.
