As our communities become more and more diverse, the incidents of cultural misunderstanding become more and more frequent between the new immigrant and the lifelong resident; between the employee and the employer. But, instead of looking at our differences as obstacles, we can see them as opportunities: to increase our awareness of cultural practices and customs and to build our knowledge of the challenges we all face as we work with new arrivals who are learning to navigate the American healthcare system.

 

There are many ways an organization can become more culturally responsive while enriching its own work environment. Education and training, as well as practical experience, are the obvious means to do this.

 

The demographics of America have changed drastically over the years. In Minnesota, for example, thousands of East Africans and South Asians have come to the state seeking a better life. Neighborhood House located in Saint Paul has helped this new wave of immigrants and refugees to bridge the cultural gap and become a part of the Minnesota mainstream.

 

The programs and services offered by Neighborhood House help individuals, families and organizations develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive in diverse communities. These programs can be seen as training tools for administrators and managers who are looking to increase their overall knowledge of multiculturism in the workplace. Among the programs offered to organizations, are cultural competency workshops on topics such as "New Minnesotans," "Building Common Ground" and "Cultural Overviews." In each workshop, participants are given the opportunity to increase their capacity to effectively engage immigrant and refugee populations, improve communications between long-term Minnesotans and newcomers and further understand different customs and cultures. Most workshops are conducted by representatives of various cultures who can share their personal experiences. For example, in " "Multicultural Caregiving" the workshop uses an interactive panel presentation to give practitioners an opportunity to increase their awareness of the different care giving experiences faced by various cultural communities and their views of mainstream service today.

 

Some suggestions from these training sessions have been:

 

1. Develop your understanding of the employee's culture
As a sign of respect it is important for managers and caregivers to make an effort at building their understanding of where their employees came from. Identify countries of origin on a map, what languages are spoken, the religious beliefs, the history, and what reasons led people to relocate to the United States

 

2. Meet one on one in order to build relationships
Treating employees as individuals goes a long way. Sit down and talk with an employee about their life experiences. Show an interest in their individual stories. This will help you learn more about the group dynamics and differences that may exist between employees you may currently perceive as similar.

 

3. Talk slowly & clearly
Many times native English speakers will talk too fast or use a lot of slang or humor in their day-to-day conversations. Try to avoid using sophisticated words, speak clearly and focus on good pronunciation.

 

4. Ask comprehension questions
When you finish making a point instead of asking "Do you understand?" this will inevitably elicit an affirmative response, ask, "So I just explained that when this happens you are supposed to do something. What are you supposed to do in this situation?"

 

On July 22, 30 and August 14 and 21, Neighborhood House training manager, Abdimalik Askar, will conduct two half-day and two full-day workshops titled "Embracing Cultural Diversity along the Health Care Continuum: Understanding our East African Employees" at Pathway's Fireside Education Center located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Open for course credit to administrators, nursing directors, social workers and department managers, the meaning of the term "multicultural" will be defined and what it means to be multicultural will be explored. With a sharp focus on promoting cross-cultural understanding between employers and their East African employees, participants will become more informed about the dynamics of the East African culture and how those dynamics impact the workplace. To register for one of these sessions, please visit www.pathwayhealth.com/classes.