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As a visible force in the community,
Support Systems Homes respects knowledge and individuality
while promoting respect and positive attitudes for others.
We not only recognize the cultural, social, and linguistic
diversity of our community, but seek perspectives that are
not homogenous. We feel an important way to learn is the
listening to, and acting on, the input that questions the
status quo in a productive manner. Clients and staff must
feel empowered to share their perspectives from culturally
and socially diverse backgrounds, and must have a sense that
the open exchange of viewpoints is encouraged.
Information gathered from the Needs Assessment
process and Outcomes will be incorporated into our Cultural
Diversity program for relevancy.
Cultural Diversity Plan - Goals and Objectives
Support Systems Homes seeks to advance growth
in the behavioral health profession by promoting diversity
in education, training, clientele, staffing, service, and
outreach. Diversity includes age, class, race, religion,
ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability and
history of under-representation. |
Primary Components of our Plan for Cultural Diversity 1. Multicultural Resource Center
In order to
accomplish the goals of promoting and advancing cultural diversity,
Support Systems Homes has implemented a small Multicultural
Resource and Research Center located at the Residential Treatment
Facility. This is a designated area in which clients, the community,
and staff members may obtain brochures, pamphlets, substance
abuse and educational materials in a variety of languages. We
plan to enhance and expand on this area over time.
Our multicultural resource center hopes to
promote effective substance abuse prevention and treatment messages
by reaching out to under-served
communities. Special populations according to statistics for the
Silicon Valley area, include African Americans, Hispanics, Asians/Pacific
Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives. See demographics & chart
At our Multicultural Resource Center, you will
find:
a. A comprehensive array of literature, brochures,
pamphlets and other reading material in English, Spanish, Vietnamese,
and other
languages pertinent to the Silicon Valley area.
b. An extensive research library includes books, published statistics
and findings relating to culturally diverse groups.
c. Referral resources.
2. Online Multicultural Resource Center
In coordination
with the on-site Resource Centers, SSH's new online resource
center is open and will be updated at least monthly.
Information, extensive resources, and our Cultural Diversity
Plan are provided here in order to reach a wider audience,
including disabled populations.
3. Community Outreach
Outreach includes presentations
to, and communication with, community agencies or organizations
by staff, promoting diversity through
multimedia resources online and onsite, and encouraging informed,
open-minded attitudes.. Staff from every sector will actively
continue our established community outreach program. Community
Outreach Components include:
a. Educating the community, both formally and through informal
interaction, in an effort to remove stigma, increase knowledge
bases, and promote mutual learning.
b. Using a variety of educational modes in order to foster understanding,
including multimedia resources.
c. Providing an atmosphere of open information exchange through
the examination of controversy and an emphasis on mutual learning.
4. Staff Hiring and Training
Our personnel philosophy
promotes not only hiring qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds,
but ongoing training in multicultural
issues for all staff. Support Systems Homes ensures that employment
and advancement decisions are based on valid job-related requirements
(i.e. education, experience, merit) without regard to: race/color/national
origin/ancestry, religion, sex, sexual preference, age, disability. Employment opportunities are advertised through the media and
our web site in order to reach a diverse audience. We encourage
the placement of interns and volunteers within the organization
as well.
5. Addressing Client Cultural Diversity
We provide
current information and a comprehensive resource program to clients
and staff alike, that represents the diversity of
our society and is also specific to our area.
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Multicultural Resources
General
Parenting
With Dignity™
Site offers information for parents of all cultures
with resources on gang violence, education, and drug prevention
and treatment. The Parenting With Dignity™ program is
a Parent - Education organization. The Parenting With Dignity™ website
is built around teaching the concepts presented in the course
titled "Parenting with Dignity™".
"My dream
with this foundation is to address some of the problems which
kids are facing, at their source.
I would like this foundation to be a source of information for
parents, giving them some tools to use to create an encouraging,
and loving home for their children . . . one like I had. My
hope is that their home will become a springboard to happiness
and fulfillment."
- Drew Bledsoe, Quarterback Buffalo Bills /
Founder of "Parenting With Dignity" and Drew Bledsoe
Foundation
Join Together Online (JTO) has long been a pioneer
in using the Internet to support people working on substance
abuse and gun violence issues. Every month, three-quarters of
a million JTO web pages are viewed by over 350,000 people --
users of this site, subscribers to our e-mail news services,
and visitors to websites in our syndication network.
Tides
Foundation
Since 1976, Tides Foundation has
worked with donors committed to positive social change. We put
resources and people together--strengthening community-based
nonprofit organizations and the progressive movement through
innovative grantmaking. We define "progressive" as
creating a positive impact on people's lives in ways that honor
and promote human rights, justice, and a healthy, sustainable
environment.
African American
Roland
Williams
Roland Williams has written numerous
recovery related articles and developed a culturally specific
Relapse Prevention Model for African Americans. He has three
published books; Relapse Prevention Counseling for African Americans,
Relapse Warning Signs for African Americans, (both written with
Terence T. Gorski) and Relapse Prevention Workbook for African
Americans written solely by Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams is
also sponsor of Freedom Forum 2003, which is an open forum
for the community to come and discuss freedom from addiction,
incarceration, physcial illness, and spiritual bondage in
the African American and Latino Communites.
Latino
Latinonet
Latinonet is committed to increasing the use of
telecommunications technology among the Latino nonprofit community.
The overarching mission of Latinonet is to be a self sufficient
nonprofit information provider dedicated to empowering the Latino
community by bringing within their reach telecommunications
network technology that enables them to produce information,
share information, increase collaboration, and meet the needs
of America's Latino community.
Alcohóicos Anónimos
Spanish translated version of Alcoholics-Anonymous.org.
"Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share
their experience, strength and hope with each other that they
may solve their common problem and help others to recover from
alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire
to stop drinking."
International Intergroup of Alcoholics
Anonymous (Multi-Lingual Portal)
"The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics
Anonymous® was formed to serve all online AA® Groups
in the rapidly growing online Fellowship. OIAA is composed of
elected representatives of those online AA groups wishing to
participate. As the Fellowship of AA grows and flourishes in
this new medium of electronic communication, we will strive
to provide whatever support we can offer to groups as they carry
the message of recovery from alcoholism."
NIDA Publicaciones
Spanish version of the National Institute
on Drug Abuse publications. NIDA's mission is to lead the Nation
in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.
Gay and Lesbian
Billy
DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center
The DeFrank Center's mission is to
provided a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
people to meet in a healthy and supportive environment. The
Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center opened its doors
on March 1, 1981 in a two-room storefront on Keyes St. in south
downtown San Jose. A year earlier, the DeFrank Center's founders
had watched with concern as Santa Clara County residents voted
to repeal ordinances extending housing and employment protections
to lesbians and gay men.
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