Achieving Healthy Outcomes for Children and Families of Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
Author: Nelkin, Valerie S.
Date Published: 1996
Over the past decades, state and local efforts have continuously worked to address the multiple needs of children with special health care needs and their families. However, families of diverse cultures whose children have special health care needs experience additional struggles. Given the increasing cultural diversity of the United States today, it is extremely important to identify and replicate positive examples of cross-cultural relationships between these families and health care providers. This monograph summarizes the results of the OPUS Project, a three-year federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau SPRANS (Special Projects of Regional and National Significance) grant awarded to Southwest Communication Resources in Bernalillo, New Mexico. It documents the background of the OPUS Project, methods used, findings, and recommendations. The distinctively personal approach of gathering information from families and health care providers is illustrated throughout the document with quotes and stories from personal experience. The monograph targets health care and human service professionals who want to improve their collaborations with culturally diverse families who have children with special health care needs. Providers can use the monograph as a guide to develop better communication with and understanding of families from different cultures. In addition, professionals can incorporate the lessons learned from the OPUS Project as they develop and implement programs for families whose children have special health care needs.
Date Published: 1996
Over the past decades, state and local efforts have continuously worked to address the multiple needs of children with special health care needs and their families. However, families of diverse cultures whose children have special health care needs experience additional struggles. Given the increasing cultural diversity of the United States today, it is extremely important to identify and replicate positive examples of cross-cultural relationships between these families and health care providers. This monograph summarizes the results of the OPUS Project, a three-year federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau SPRANS (Special Projects of Regional and National Significance) grant awarded to Southwest Communication Resources in Bernalillo, New Mexico. It documents the background of the OPUS Project, methods used, findings, and recommendations. The distinctively personal approach of gathering information from families and health care providers is illustrated throughout the document with quotes and stories from personal experience. The monograph targets health care and human service professionals who want to improve their collaborations with culturally diverse families who have children with special health care needs. Providers can use the monograph as a guide to develop better communication with and understanding of families from different cultures. In addition, professionals can incorporate the lessons learned from the OPUS Project as they develop and implement programs for families whose children have special health care needs.
