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Cultural Competency

January 9, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm EST

Registration deadline: 1/2/25

Virtual

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DESCRIPTION:

This training will address the core concepts of Cultural Competency, also referred to as Cultural Humility or Cultural Sensitivity. This training is created to challenge your assumptions and take each participant out of their comfort zone. This training is meant to challenge each individual’s belief systems and perceptions of their work and clients. This training may be uncomfortable and triggering at times, and participants are asked to be respectful of one another while navigating difficult conversations. The main purpose of this training is to enhance overall service delivery to each client.

TRAINER:

Karinne Comenzo, MA, LICSW, LADC is currently the Assistant Director of Clinical Services for the River Valley Therapeutic Residence. Prior to this role, Karinne worked for the Vermont Department of Corrections as Chief Clinical Specialist for five years. The majority of her human services career was providing mental health and substance abuse treatment services to marginalized populations in New York City. This included individuals experiencing homelessness, incarceration, sex trafficking, and domestic violences, among others. Karinne holds an MA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an MSW from New York University. She is licensed in Vermont as an LICSW and LADC, and licensed in New York as an LMSW. When Karinne is not focused on helping others in her work, you can find her engaged in hot exercise classes, dance class with her two young kiddos, or throwing a ball for her Australian Cattle Dog. 

AGENDA:

Morning: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Welcome and Introductions
  • What is culture?
  • What is cultural competency?
  • Underlying principles

Break 10:30 – 10:45 am

  • Review of applicable Code of Ethics
  • Challenging perceptions

Lunch: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Afternoon:  1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

  • Challenging perceptions (cont.) and assumptions
  • Self awareness as practitioners
  • Applying Cultural Competency concepts to service delivery

Break 2:30 – 2:45pm

  • Programmatic considerations
  • Cultural Competency and colleagues

Adjourn: 4:30 pm

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Define the Intention Impact Model

Define culture

Identify three ways our own culture impacts our work

​Identify three ways Cultural Competency can improve service delivery and client experience

Identify three general skills and strategies for culturally sensitive service delivery