Key CLC Milestones Documented

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training
Members of CLASP (Culture and Language Access Services Partners) hold up documents reflecting key accomplishments reached by the coalition (CLASP was formed in 2013 to promote awareness about Language Access Services). Among the documents shown are: a) a copy of the Executive Order signed by the governor requiring all government entities including boards and commissions to develop Language Access Plans to address the language needs of its organizations as required by federal mandates and Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards in Health and Health Care; b) a copy of “Beyond Mandates: Language Access Services in Guam,” a publication by UOG CEDDERS outlining the significance of LAS as a strategy to address disparities in services. The publication also documents local efforts to address language equity across the system of services on Guam; and, c) the PEACE Council packet with a cover letter from the Council that will be disseminated to all organizations informing them of the Executive Order and the resources available to help comply with the Executive Order. Front Left to Right: Tisha Flores, DYA; Dorothy Manglona, GCC; Kirsten Rosario, GCC; Back Left to Right: Alex Silverio, DPHSS-GOMH; Ignacio Guerrero, GBHWC; Leilani Duenas, GCC-AHEC; Mariles Benavente, UOG CEDDERS-Project Karinu; Maria Perez, GMHA; Peter Alexis Ada, DYA. The next quarterly CLASP meeting will be held in February 2017. Please call any of the members shown above for more information about CLASP and/or about the Executive Order No. 2015-015.
Members of CLASP (Culture and Language Access Services Partners) hold up documents reflecting key accomplishments reached by the coalition (CLASP was formed in 2013 to promote awareness about Language Access Services). Among the documents shown are: a) a copy of the Executive Order signed by the governor requiring all government entities including boards and commissions to develop Language Access Plans to address the language needs of its organizations as required by federal mandates and Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards in Health and Health Care; b) a copy of “Beyond Mandates: Language Access Services in Guam,” a publication by UOG CEDDERS outlining the significance of LAS as a strategy to address disparities in services. The publication also documents local efforts to address language equity across the system of services on Guam; and, c) the PEACE Council packet with a cover letter from the Council that will be disseminated to all organizations informing them of the Executive Order and the resources available to help comply with the Executive Order. Front Left to Right: Tisha Flores, DYA; Dorothy Manglona, GCC; Kirsten Rosario, GCC; Back Left to Right: Alex Silverio, DPHSS-GOMH; Ignacio Guerrero, GBHWC; Leilani Duenas, GCC-AHEC; Mariles Benavente, UOG CEDDERS-Project Karinu; Maria Perez, GMHA; Peter Alexis Ada, DYA.
The next quarterly CLASP meeting will be held in February 2017. Please call any of the members shown above for more information about CLASP and/or about the Executive Order No. 2015-015.

Addressing Disparities through Organizational Cultural and Linguistic Competence

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Project Kariñu

On January 26-28, Tawara Goode, M.A., Assistant Professor, Associate Director, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Center for Child and Human Development, Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Director, National Center for Cultural Competence and Vivian Jackson, MSW, from the National Center for Cultural Competence and Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, conducted three presentations on “Addressing Disparities through Organizational Cultural and Linguistic Competence.” Day 1 of the three-day activity included a presentation on “A Cultural Competence Framework for Developing A CLC Vision and Action Plan” with 65 participants from public and private organizations in attendance. The second day consisted of two sessions held at the University of Guam campus. The morning session, covered the topic “Linguistic Competence Beyond Language Access: Addressing Health Literacy, Literacy, & Communication with Individuals who have disabilities; and Developing Language Access Plans according to Title VI Guidance and CLAS Standards.” Students from Guam Community College’s American Sign Language II class were part of the 56 participants in attendance for this presentation.

The afternoon session covered the topic, “CLC: Essential Knowledge & Skills within the University Environment training.” Students from UOG’s Social Work program, faculty from UOG’s Nursing Department, and Department of Education staff attended this presentation.

Tawara and Vivian concluded their visit with a final presentation on January 28 at the GSAT Conference Room at House 19, Dean’s Circle. This training, titled “Framework to Address Disparities in Children’s Behavioral Health” included participants from Guam CEDDERS, Project Kariñu, icareguam, and I Famagu’on-ta.

Collaborators and sponsors of these activities included: National Center for Cultural Competence and Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development; Guam CEDDERS; Department of Public Health & Social Services, Project Kariñu, Guam Office of Minority Health, Live Healthy Guam; Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, I Famagu’on-ta, icareguam.