Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107518

Monica Scherer Rhodes, MPH, Public Health Program Consultant, 1320 South Federal Street, Unit C, Chicago, IL 60605, 312/362-0460, msrconsult@comcast.net, Virginia Warren, RN, MPH, Illinois Health Education Consortium, 310 South Peoria, Suite 404, Chicago, IL 60607-3545, and Beverly Troiano, MEd, English as a Second Language (ESL), Chicago Discovery Academy, 2710 East 89th Street, Chicago, IL 60617.

Challenging prevalent notions, this paper encourages a re-conceptualization of cultural competence in health care. The authors assert that true cultural competence requires a reciprocal and dynamic exchange between the health care consumer and provider. Implemented through English language programs,and native language workshops led by bilingual lay health educators, the Illinois Health Education Consortium's Consumer Cultural Competence (CCC) in Health Care Settings program addresses personal and systemic barriers that lead to poorer health outcomes experienced by many non-and limited English speaking persons. In exploring the CCC program, session participants will recognize the dynamic nature of cultural competence as a concept that encourages health care consumers, as well as providers, to master skills needed to define and pursue favorable health outcomes in full partnership. Finally, session participants will learn new strategies to recognize and enhance health care consumers' power as navigators and communicators within the U.S. health care system, acknowledging the consumer's vital role in defining and achieving positive health outcomes.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Describe cultural competence as a reciprocal process comprising both consumer and provider cultural competence.
• List 3 innovative ways to foster communication between immigrant/refugee health care consumers and U.S. health care providers.
• Articulate 3 ways consumer cultural competence augments immigrant/refugee consumers' power to achieve desired goals within the health care system.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Competency

Related Web page: www.IHEC.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation