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18 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 23, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Diversity right at home right here in Halton Community agencies from across Halton attended the Diversity Lives Here: Achieving Cultural Competency workshop hosted by the Halton Infant Maternal Care Coalition Wednesday. The goal of the workshop was to provide community professionals who work with young families before, during and after birth, with cultural competency skills and tools to help them develop strategies for working with diverse cultures, according to a news release from Halton Region. Cultural competency refers to a set of behaviours, attitudes and policies that help professionals to work in cross-cultural situations. "As service providers in the community, we all have a responsibility to work together to build a healthy and inclusive community," said Regional Chair Gary Carr who delivered opening greetings to workshop participants. "The commitment to customer service means continuous improvement, learning and adapting to ensure we provide all the people we serve with the respect and dignity they deserve." The workshop featured presentations from Rani Srivastava, author of "The Healthcare Professionals Guide to Clinical Cultural Competence", Ted Hildebrant, Director of Social Planning for Community Development Halton, and Joanna Matthews, Executive Director of the Halton Multicultural Council. All three speakers talked about the importance of understanding what cultural competency means and how it can positively transform the relationship between a healthcare provider, an organization and its clients. "More organizations are recognizing that in order to meet the needs of all your clients, you need to have your workforce develop skills with respect to working with diverse cultures," said Kathryn Bamford, Chair of the Halton Infant Maternal Coalition. "The purpose of the Diversity Lives Here workshop is to increase awareness about diversity in Halton and to provide professionals working in the area of prenatal and maternal care with the opportunity to network, share experiences and build skills related to cultural competency." Halton is one of the fastest growing areas in Canada with a 10.4 per cent increase in population between 1996 and 2001. Ontario's growth rate during the same time was 6.1 per cent. According to the 2001 Census, 32,550 Halton residents identified themselves as members of a visible minority group, representing 8.7 per cent of the total population. In addition to leaving the workshop with information about diverse communities in Halton, participants received a copy of Rani Srivastava's book The Healthcare Professionals Guide to Clinical Cultural Competence, as well a checklist to support `Developing Cultural Competency within an Organization', as well as resource materials. The Halton Maternal Infant Coalition is comprised of community agencies that work with expectant parents, new parents and young families. The mandate of the coalition is to promote excellence in maternal/infant care and promote the health of families and children (ages newborn to one years) throughout Halton Region. Partners in the Halton Maternal Infant Coalition include: the Halton Region Health Department, Halton Healthcare Services, Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Sheridan College, the Community Care Access Centre, Halton Children's Aid Society and Hope Place, Community Midwives of Halton. FINAL WEEKEND BERTIN STABLES March Break Camps Now Booking · Weekday Lessons 4/$107 or $35/Lesson · Saturday at Farm 10am-3pm $40 (Children 5-12 yrs.) (905) 827-4678 www.bertinstables.com