PULLMAN, Wash. — “Empezando”, a one-day professional development conference to help non-Latino therapists, caseworkers, agency managers, law enforcement professionals, educators and others better understand the Hispanic culture is scheduled Sept. 26 at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.
“In parts of the state, more than 30 percent of the residents identify themselves as Hispanic,” said V. Lori Carraway, WSU extension faculty in Snohomish County. “To serve their clients respectfully and effectively, professionals who work with Latinos need to understand the mix of cultures and origins in Latino communities.”
Featured speakers will include Antonio Ginatta, executive director, Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs; and Margarita Suarez, executive director of Avanta, The Virginia Satir Network. Breakout sessions will be facilitated primarily by Latino professionals and will include
- Culturally appropriate family evaluations
- Domestic violence treatment issues
- Treating sexual abuse perpetrators in the Hispanic community
- Promoting parent involvement and advocacy during early childhood
- Working through interpreters
- Legal and ethical issues, a lawyer’s perspective
- Barriers and byways in psychiatric treatment for Latinos
- CPS and recruiting and supporting Hispanic foster families
- The Hispanic community and law enforcement.
Registration is $90 through September 15 and $105 after. The fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch and a networking fiesta with dinner and music following the conference. The National Board for Certified Counselors has approved Empazando for seven continuing education units.
Law enforcement professionals with community assignments can receive partial scholarships from the Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety.
Contact Janet Jayne, WSU Cooperative Extension, Snohomish County, at (425) 338-2400.
The workshop is being sponsored by WSU Cooperative Extension in collaboration with the City of Bellevue; the Children’s Services Unit of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; Lutheran Community Services Northwest; the Division of Children and Family Services of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Children’s Administration; the Snohomish County Department of Human Services, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Division; therapists in private practice; and the Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety.
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