Bienvenido Acculturation Program: The Development of a Mental Health Education Program in a Rural...

Bienvenido Acculturation Bienvenido Acculturation Program:Program:

The Development of a Mental The Development of a Mental Health Education Program in a Health Education Program in a

Rural SettingRural Setting

Presenter: Gilberto Pérez Jr., MSW, ACSWPresenter: Gilberto Pérez Jr., MSW, ACSWNortheastern Center, Inc.Northeastern Center, Inc.

June 20, 2005June 20, 2005NAMI Annual Conference, Austin, TXNAMI Annual Conference, Austin, TX

ObjectivesObjectives

Present a Latino matrix for community Present a Latino matrix for community mental health programs. mental health programs.

Present the development of a Present the development of a prevention program for Latinos.prevention program for Latinos.

Present successful implementation of a Present successful implementation of a facilitator training program for Latino facilitator training program for Latino leaders and community.leaders and community.

Who Are We?Who Are We?

Northeastern Center, Inc.Northeastern Center, Inc. CMHC – Ligonier, INCMHC – Ligonier, IN Serve SMI, SED, SAServe SMI, SED, SA Intensive adolescent servicesIntensive adolescent services Inpatient UnitInpatient Unit Community Support ProgramCommunity Support Program Residential: adolescents, adultsResidential: adolescents, adults

Latino Matrix for Community Mental Health Latino Matrix for Community Mental Health Programs: Latino CommunityPrograms: Latino Community

Explore issues: 2-8 months Explore issues: 2-8 months (key questions and (key questions and concerns)concerns)

• If not addressed what will If not addressed what will block constructive change?block constructive change?

• What cultural dilemmas What cultural dilemmas does community face?does community face?

• How are community How are community members and organizations members and organizations linked together?linked together?

• What protective factors are What protective factors are in place?in place?

Capacities and Capacities and approachesapproaches

• Develop community Develop community needs assessmentneeds assessment

• Develop focal groups to Develop focal groups to address dilemmas facing address dilemmas facing both culturesboth cultures

• Link development, Link development, culturally appropriate culturally appropriate interventionsinterventions

Utilize and Aware of Mental Health Utilize and Aware of Mental Health ServicesServices

• 94 percent94 percent have never utilized mental health have never utilized mental health facility in Ligonier.facility in Ligonier.

• 90 percent90 percent have not participated in counseling have not participated in counseling for depression.for depression.

• 67 percent67 percent have never participated in have never participated in workshops related to child development.workshops related to child development.

• 83 percent83 percent are not aware of parenting classes. are not aware of parenting classes.• 25 percent25 percent have participated in workshops have participated in workshops

related to child development.related to child development.• 17 percent17 percent are aware of parenting classes. are aware of parenting classes.

Initiatives As a Result of Needs Initiatives As a Result of Needs AssessmentAssessment

• Drug Free Noble County and Northeastern Center partner: Drug Free Noble County and Northeastern Center partner: offer Spanish parenting class.offer Spanish parenting class.

• Noble Court Services and Northeastern Center partner: Noble Court Services and Northeastern Center partner: offer Spanish Substance Abuse Education Classes.offer Spanish Substance Abuse Education Classes.

• Northeastern Center developed Hispanic male batterer’s Northeastern Center developed Hispanic male batterer’s group. Received training through Center for Non-violence, group. Received training through Center for Non-violence, Ft. Wayne.Ft. Wayne.

• Submitted proposal to Diversity Project requesting funds to Submitted proposal to Diversity Project requesting funds to purchase culturally appropriate material for adolescent purchase culturally appropriate material for adolescent group.group.

Latinos Served FY02-FY05Latinos Served FY02-FY05

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05

174

237267

354

Latinos Served: Primary Dx FY05Latinos Served: Primary Dx FY05

89

23

11

45

1812

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Alcohol Abuse MajDepression

PTSD AlcoholDependence

AdjustmentDisorder

ODD


Relationships: 1-2 years•Who has most potential to serve as agents of change?

•Who has respect, linkages, understands culture?

•What training and capacity would improve Latino Community?

•In this context, what programs and people provide personal change and growth?

Capacities and approaches•Develop strategic relationship building.

•Develop adequate training and capacity building programs.

Developing Strategic RelationshipsDeveloping Strategic Relationships

RelationshipsRelationships Identify who has respect? LEAP, CDPIdentify who has respect? LEAP, CDP LEAP permitted NEC to enter LEAP permitted NEC to enter

education classes.education classes. NEC decreased barrier/stigma by NEC decreased barrier/stigma by

offering classes at non-traditional offering classes at non-traditional setting.setting.

CDP provided initial funding.CDP provided initial funding.

Developing Adequate TrainingDeveloping Adequate Training

The Bienvenido Acculturation The Bienvenido Acculturation Program will collaborate with Program will collaborate with individuals and organizations to train individuals and organizations to train individuals in the acculturation individuals in the acculturation curriculum. curriculum.

Strategic Relationship BuildingStrategic Relationship Building

Strategic relationship Strategic relationship building with other building with other community leaders:community leaders:

Training: April 2004Training: April 2004– Trained 25 community Trained 25 community

leadersleaders– July 2004: Training in July 2004: Training in

Fort Wayne, IN.Fort Wayne, IN.– Aug 2004: Presentation Aug 2004: Presentation

in Indianapolis, IRN.in Indianapolis, IRN.– December 04: Training December 04: Training

in Indianapolisin Indianapolis– Total facilitators: 39Total facilitators: 39

Institutions 5-10 Institutions 5-10 yearsyears

• Do institutions place Do institutions place people of color in people of color in positions to make positions to make decisions that affect decisions that affect Latino Community?Latino Community?

• How culturally How culturally competent are competent are institutions?institutions?

Capacities and Capacities and approachesapproaches

• Develop funding Develop funding capacity for capacity for institutional support.institutional support.

• Develop cultural Develop cultural resources for resources for adequate adequate understanding of understanding of cultural dilemma’s.cultural dilemma’s.


ResearchResearch MEIM – Multiethnic identity measure and MEIM – Multiethnic identity measure and

Contact Scale – Pfinney, California State Contact Scale – Pfinney, California State University, Wagner, Phillips University, University, Wagner, Phillips University, Germany.Germany.

University of Costa Rica.University of Costa Rica. Statistical analysis/software: Goshen Statistical analysis/software: Goshen

College Social Work Department. Provide College Social Work Department. Provide students with opportunity to work on students with opportunity to work on data for methods class.data for methods class.

Visions: 20 years +Visions: 20 years +• What are long term visions for healthy What are long term visions for healthy

vibrant community?vibrant community?

• Who are the dreamkeepers?Who are the dreamkeepers?

• What appropriate mechanisms for engaging What appropriate mechanisms for engaging institutions in imaging future?institutions in imaging future?

• What systemic changes are needed locally, What systemic changes are needed locally, internally, regional, global to achieve those internally, regional, global to achieve those visions?visions?


Capacities and approachesCapacities and approaches1.1. Develop strategic capacity for imaging the Develop strategic capacity for imaging the

future in communityfuture in community2. Develop relationships with foreign mental health 2. Develop relationships with foreign mental health

providers:providers:

NEC Univ. Costa RicaNEC Univ. Costa RicaNEC National University of NEC National University of

Mexico Mexico

3. Support and provide space for dream keepers to 3. Support and provide space for dream keepers to meet.meet.


4. Research: conduct longitudinal 4. Research: conduct longitudinal studies.studies.

5. Establish grants.5. Establish grants.

6. Identify new leaders who will share 6. Identify new leaders who will share vision of an empowered community.vision of an empowered community.


Bienvenido Acculturation ProgramBienvenido Acculturation Program

The The Bienvenido Acculturation Bienvenido Acculturation ProgramProgram is a prevention program. is a prevention program.

The acculturation classes are The acculturation classes are designed to reduce the risk of mental designed to reduce the risk of mental health problems related to the health problems related to the transition to another culture. transition to another culture.


ObjectivesObjectives• Present topics related to mental health to Present topics related to mental health to

achieve a better adjustment to new achieve a better adjustment to new community.community.

• Provide life skill training to strengthen new Provide life skill training to strengthen new immigrants life transition.immigrants life transition.

• Allow new immigrants to identify, vent, Allow new immigrants to identify, vent, and process feelings related to new life in and process feelings related to new life in a new country.a new country.


Attainment of essential life skills will Attainment of essential life skills will enable them to:enable them to:

A. A. Foster familialFoster familial strengths, self strengths, self determination,determination, and empowerment in order and empowerment in order to enhance their quality of lifeto enhance their quality of life, , andand

BB. . Work to facilitate the process of linking Work to facilitate the process of linking familiesfamilies with needed resourceswith needed resources and and opportunities within the environment.opportunities within the environment.


Related to knowledge:Related to knowledge:

Better understand their migration Better understand their migration experience.experience.

Better understandBetter understand and identify and identify individual and familial strengths.individual and familial strengths.


Related to skills:Related to skills:

- Be able to identify risk and protective - Be able to identify risk and protective factors in their community and address factors in their community and address barriers within the environment that need barriers within the environment that need to be removed.to be removed.

- Be able to identify and process their - Be able to identify and process their migration experience in a group setting.migration experience in a group setting.


Related to Related to values:values:

- Commitment to - Commitment to themselves to the themselves to the core values ofcore values of human dignity, human dignity, socialsocial change, self change, self determination,determination, and and cultural diversity.cultural diversity.


- - - - Recognize and respect similaritiesRecognize and respect similarities and differences of theirand differences of their own and host own and host culture value systems, and the culture value systems, and the implications of these differences in the implications of these differences in the construction of their new lives in a new construction of their new lives in a new country.country.


Class 1 – Class 1 – Acculturation definition, migration Acculturation definition, migration experiences, stories.experiences, stories.

Class 2 –Class 2 – Strengths, needs, goal setting. Strengths, needs, goal setting.

Class 3 – Class 3 – My traditions versus other traditions, How do I My traditions versus other traditions, How do I respond?respond?

Class 4 – Class 4 – Acculturation game: experience play as way to Acculturation game: experience play as way to vent feelings.vent feelings.

Class 5 – Class 5 – Depression, feelings exercises, remembering Depression, feelings exercises, remembering my home.my home.

Class 6 -Class 6 - Risk factors, protective factors, stress Risk factors, protective factors, stress management.management.

Class 7 – Class 7 – Community planning, ideas, activities, Community planning, ideas, activities, questionnaire.questionnaire.


Cohort groupsCohort groupsLEAP, NEC , Elkhart LEAP, NEC , Elkhart Community Schools, West Community Schools, West Noble High School, Noble High School, Cummins Behavioral Cummins Behavioral Health – Marion County, Health – Marion County, Center for Nonviolence – Center for Nonviolence – 06/0506/05

Evaluation – How do Evaluation – How do

students rate the program students rate the program and what are their and what are their comments?comments?

Evaluation Results: N = 34Evaluation Results: N = 34

What did I like most about the acculturation classes?

•That I used a lot of communication.•The process of adaptation to another country.•Communication•Being able to converse with other people.•All of the subjects.•The teachers, the conversation and the food.•The subjects covered in class.•The effectiveness of the facilitators.•That all of us had a chance to talk to the facilitators.


What were the weaknesses of the What were the weaknesses of the acculturation classes?acculturation classes?

– None.None.– That my facilitator didn’t show up for class That my facilitator didn’t show up for class

once.once.– The time I had a headache.The time I had a headache.– There were few students.There were few students.– I relived bad things from my past.I relived bad things from my past.– I believe that nothing. All things were I believe that nothing. All things were

adaptable to this country.adaptable to this country.


What impact have the acculturation classes What impact have the acculturation classes had on my personal life?had on my personal life?

To be better integrated into society.To be better integrated into society. How to better manage my temperament and How to better manage my temperament and

better resolve my problems.better resolve my problems. I learned to better adjust to this country.I learned to better adjust to this country. I have learned to better adapt to this country.I have learned to better adapt to this country. Yes, it helped me on how to still believe I am Yes, it helped me on how to still believe I am

Mexican and keep my culture alive.Mexican and keep my culture alive. It helped me to understand people from other It helped me to understand people from other

cultures.cultures.


1.1. I understood the topics presented in I understood the topics presented in the acculturation classes. 83% Agreethe acculturation classes. 83% Agree

2.2. The material presented helped me The material presented helped me change my attitude toward my life in this change my attitude toward my life in this country. 84% Agree country. 84% Agree

33.. The individual and group exercises The individual and group exercises were helpful in my comprehension of the were helpful in my comprehension of the material. 92% Agreematerial. 92% Agree

Training and Capacity Building:Training and Capacity Building: Bienvenido Bienvenido PartnershipsPartnerships

School CorporationsSchool Corporations Celebrate Diversity ProjectCelebrate Diversity Project LEAP, Inc.LEAP, Inc. Human Relations CommissionHuman Relations Commission Communities in SchoolsCommunities in Schools Youth Services BureauYouth Services Bureau Family Services ElkhartFamily Services Elkhart ChurchChurch Community Health CenterCommunity Health Center Center for Problem ResolutionCenter for Problem Resolution Goshen CollegeGoshen College Center for NonviolenceCenter for Nonviolence Mental Health Association Mental Health Association

Marion County Marion County

ConclusionConclusion

Development of Bienvenido Development of Bienvenido Acculturation Program has created Acculturation Program has created new opportunities for:new opportunities for:

Prevention program to bring about Prevention program to bring about empowerment and social change in empowerment and social change in Latino community.Latino community.


Partnerships among different Partnerships among different providers in the community: providers in the community: mental health, education, mental health, education, diversity initiative.diversity initiative.

Resource sharing by community Resource sharing by community based agencies.based agencies.


Potential partnerships between Potential partnerships between traditional CMHC and International traditional CMHC and International Universities and NGO’s has begun.Universities and NGO’s has begun.

ConclusionConclusion Capacity building at Capacity building at

different levels: different levels: community community members and members and leaders.leaders.

Training of Training of facilitators from facilitators from different Latin different Latin American countries American countries and US (Brazil, Chile, and US (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico).Puerto Rico).

ConclusionConclusion Creation of a Latino Creation of a Latino

Behavioral Health Behavioral Health Summit to address Summit to address gaps in mental health gaps in mental health care for Latinos.care for Latinos.

November 2-3, 2005 November 2-3, 2005

Pokagon State ParkPokagon State Park

Angola, INAngola, IN

www.nec.orgwww.nec.org

Program ImplementationProgram Implementation

Call Northeastern Center, Inc.Call Northeastern Center, Inc.Contact person: Gilberto Pérez Jr.Contact person: Gilberto Pérez Jr.

260-894-7179 260-894-7179

email: [email protected]: [email protected]

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