Webinars

Past NCAPPS Webinars

Pieces of the Same Puzzle: The Role of Culture in Person-Centered Thinking, Planning, and Practice

Tuesday July 9th 2019



The movements to advance person-centered thinking and cultural competence have evolved along parallel tracks. This dichotomy is evident not only in the literature about person-centered thinking but also in policy and practice. Every person is a cultural being and has multiple cultural identities. Some people experience intersectionality due to societally imposed discrimination because of their memberships in multiple marginalized social groups. Yet person-centered thinking, planning, and practice have been slow to assemble the “pieces of the puzzle” that link the integral role of culture in the design, delivery, and evaluation of services and supports for this nation’s diverse populations. This webinar will take an in-depth look at culture, its multiple dimensions, and the essential role it plays among states, territories, and tribal nations seeking to align their values and policies with person-centered thinking, planning, and practice in health and human services. It will also feature the role of culture in services and supports that are preferred and needed from the perspective of those with lived experience.

Participants will learn to:

  1. Define and differentiate culture and cultural diversity
  2. Compare the concepts of multiple cultural identities and intersectionality and reflect on their implications for the populations served in their state
  3. Review current and emergent demographic trends in the United States
  4. Examine the Convergence of Cultural Contexts Framework and its relevance for systems of services and supports within states, territories, and tribal nations
  5. List at least 5 roles that culture plays in person-centered thinking, planning, and practice
  6. Listen to and reflect on the importance of addressing culture based on the lived experience of individuals receiving services and supports

Meet the presenters


Tawara Goode

Tawara Goode is Director of the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC). The mission of the NCCC is to increase the capacity of health care and mental health care programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems to address growing diversity, persistent disparities, and to promote health and mental health equity.

Andy Arias

Andy Arias has worked as a System Change Advocate and Program Manager for Orange County & Los Angeles for over seven years. He is member of many boards and commissions related to creating greater visibility and advancement for diverse communities, especially the disability community. Andy’s expertise extends to Federal government and corporate levels. His goal is to marry his policy work with his work in the entertainment industry to create a systemic lasting change.

Chacku Mathai

Chacku Mathai is an Indian-American, born in Kuwait, who became involved in mental health and addiction recovery advocacy when he was only 15 years old. Chacku’s personal experiences with racism and xenophobia related trauma, suicide and disabling mental health and substance use challenges as a youth and young adult launched Chacku and his family towards a number of efforts to advocate for alternative supports, equity, and inclusion in the community.

This webinar is the first in a four-part series presented by the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence and NCAPPS exploring cultural and linguistic competence as it relates to person-centered thinking, planning, and practice.

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