The Caribbean Family Symposium, “Social Work Practice and Health Care Intervention with Caribbean Families” comes to South Florida
DEERFIELD BEACH – The Caribbean Family Symposium entitled, “Social Work Practice and Health Care Intervention with Caribbean Families” is sponsored by Barry University and will be held from 8:30am to 3:30 pm Friday, March 24, 2006 at the Hilton Hotel in Deerfield Beach.
The following four topics will be offered at the symposium :
1)Working with the Caribbean Families and Youth in Education settings
2)The Influence of Caribbean Culture on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
3)The Influence of Caribbean Culture on Health Care
4) Skills for Working with Caribbean Families.
Faculty and practitioners from the University of the West Indies: St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago and Cave Hill Campus, Barbados represents the international partners. Faculty from Barry University and the University of the West Indies will serve as plenary and workshop presenters.
City of Lauderdale Lakes Commissioner Hazelle Rogers shares her thoughts on the Health Care and Mental Health topics:
The Influence of Caribbean Culture on HealthCare:
Caribbean Culture does impact the way the individual views his/her illness and the one who treats them. They are more likely to go to the doctor who shares their cultural background. There is also a strong belief in Herbal remedies which at times is a contradiction for the individual’s health. One significant factor is diet and exercise. There is still a great emphasis on diet as most of our ethnic foods are high in fat, sugar and cholesterol. Based on these factors it is very important to provide our community with nutritional education and reinforce the need to have regular doctor’s visit and in taking the prescribed medication.
The Influence of Caribbean Culture on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
The stigma of MH/SA problems affects people of all cultures and prevents people from seeking necessary treatment. Because of the lack of early intervention we have delays in diagnosis. MH/SA is seen as a sign of weakness and is a stigma especially true for minorities and Caribbean people. Also, in some Caribbean cultures, people and families attribute mental illness to external forces such as voodoo and black magic. Therefore, the family may encourage the individual to stop using medication and visit a healer instead.
Regional partners and co-sponsors of this event include the North Broward Hospital District, the Children Services Council of Palm Beach County, and the Children Services Council of Broward County.
For additional information on the event, please contact Debra M. McPhee, Dean-School of Social Work, Barry University (305) 899-3196 or [email protected].
