Cultural Competency

Creating Partnerships with Diverse Families

The roles of professionals working with families today are complex. Parents must be involved and feel positively engaged with all agencies and institutions that serve their families. In order to accomplish this, professionals must rethink traditional ways of working together, adapting some old structures and creating new structures that are more responsive. This training focuses on the knowledge and skills required to overcome barriers and engage families in constructive and respectful relationships. Key strategies to be explored include the development of culturally sensitive programming opportunities, effective outreach strategies, and positive interpersonal communication skills.

Working with Parents in Culturally Competent Ways

Cultural competence is the ability to learn from and relate respectfully with people of your own culture and other cultures, and adjusting your own behaviors based on what you learn. This training will give participants an in-depth perspective of how different cultural experiences, belief systems, family structures, and values influence parenting. Specific skills that help professionals understand, adapt, and respond sensitively to differences will be addressed.