CULTURAL COMPETENCE TRAINING
Adelante project offers trainings in Cultural Competence for Healthcare Providers. Cultural Competence: A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross cultural situations. “Culture” refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious or social groups. “Competence” implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of cultural beliefs, behaviors and needs presented by a consumer and their communities.
A worshop on the role that Hispanic/Latino cultural beliefs and linguistic factors play in achieving client compliance with treatment.		Lecturer Melissa Smith-Venters
Objectives of the training: Discuss the role of Hispanic cultural and linguistic factors in achieving patient adherence to prescribed regimes. Identify traditional Latino health beliefs that may impact patient compliance with treatment. Describe the general demographics and health status of the newly immigrated Hispanic population in South Carolina. Topics for Discussion Cultural Traits Health Beliefs Demographics Health Care Mandates Health Status Barriers to Delivery Action Plan
The Cultural Cometence Training enhances cultural understanding and sensitivity toward Latinos among service providers. As a North American who grew up in Central America, I am able to observe and relate to the Latin culture as an ‘insider with an outsider’s perspective.’ My formative years were spent living in an isolated village on the north coast of Honduras where my family started a development initiative focused on primary health care and education. My commitment to work in community outreach thus began early as I helped in the hospital, interpreted for visiting doctors, assisted in administration, and coordinated youth volunteers. Over the years, I have had ample experience with leading workshops, giving seminars, and facilitating group work with diverse audiences in several countries. Melissa Smith-Venters Lecturer