Cross-Cultural Member Care-Ethne to Ethne
Dr. Kelly O’Donnell 10.05 (presentation outline)
We understand that there is a purpose to human history-it is not random-and that there will be a conclusion to this age. God is at work in history to redeem people from every nation, tribe, and language (Revelation 5:9,10). It is an “ethne to ethne” strategy, in which believers from different people groups reach out to other people groups, until “all of the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” The vision is thus for all ethnic groups to be involved in cross-ethne mission.
Member care is a service ministry which supports this historical and biblical vision. As an international movement of member care practitioners, we are committed to helping mission workers develop the personal qualities and life skills necessary to work effectively. And this includes mission workers from all ethne. Now let’s consider an amazing corollary to this: I would like to suggest that this also means that we are committed to seeing quality member care workers from all ethne raised up and trained, including those within/from the A4 regions (Africa, Asia, Arabic-Turkic, and America-Latina). So the focus is both on supporting mission workers, and training others from various cultures to be quality care providers. Member care, then, is also very much an “ethne to ethne” strategy.
Ethne to ethne member care (E2MC) though is tricky. It is important to set up opportunities for colleagues from different cultures to interact with each other (forums, conferences, writing, networks etc.). It is also important for colleagues with member care training/experience in different cultures/countries, to help facilitate learning and practice as “multicultural bridges”. Ethne to ethne member care requires the best or our conceptual thinking and research skills, extensive practical experience; and lots of personal connections and ongoing relationships with colleagues. Culture learning is a two-way street!
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Three Points of Departure
1. We want to develop transcultural frameworks and specific cross-cultural skills in E2MC
Trans: General member care principles common across many cultures
Cross: Specific member care approaches relevant within another culture
2. We appreciate differences/diversity and the ambiguity/complexity in E2MC
Culture: Shared, sense of affinity, based on common worldview, beliefs/values, behaviours, products
Cultures: Focus on national/ethnic cultures, but also organisations, gender, generations, theology, etc.
3. We reproduce our character, competence, compassion and “relational resiliency” in E2MC
Breadth: Developing a diversity of skills and personal virtues-growing and training broadly
Depth: Developing core competencies and solid character-growing and training deeply
Cultural Issues in Clinical Care: DSM-IV pp. 843-849; Where ThereIs No Psychiartrist pp.17-18
How do cultural factors influence assessment and care?
1. What is the cultural identity of the person?
Degree of involvement in different cultures; language abilities and preferences
2. What are the cultural explanations of the person’s illness/problem?
“Idioms of distress” used for recurrent, aberrant behaviour and troubling experiences:
examples include nerves, possessing spirits, somatic complaints, fate, etc.
The meaning of the symptoms in relations to the norms of the cultural reference group
The perceived causes and explanation
3. What are the previous experiences and preferences for receiving help?
Types of acceptable helpers in one’s culture and their helping roles
Negative experiences and positive experiences
4. What are some social stressors and supports?
Stressors in one’s living/work situation
role of religion, kin network, and friends in providing support
5. What are some cultural factors in the relationship between the person and the caregiver?
Social status, language issues, etc.
Special Issues
Multicultural competencies in the current “politically correct” context of respecting diversity
Age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, socio-economic status, etc. (tolerance, compromise, and deviance?)
Some ethical issues for helping in cross-cultural settings
Competence if no one else may be available to help, multiple social/work relationships, limitations of informed consent, brief interactions, confidentiality/privacy, deliverance/prayer, language learning “distress”, problem people (personality disorders, substance abuse/dependence, etc.)
Positive psychology-Six virtues and 24 character strengths (Seligman et al)
What makes life enjoyable and worth living? How do we develop positive emotions, positive character traits, and positive social institutions. How do these contribute to our/others’ well-being? Core virtues: wisdom/knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence
Helping communities after disasters/emergencies (See Briefing Issue 13 at www.membercare.org)
Mass disaster situations create massive wounds, and many are less visible, emotional wounds. Empowering communities to help themselves is key to seeing people become active survivors rather than passive victims. Consider these core community-based principles, in the aftermath of mass disasters: Stay busy and help others, to help stay sane; establish routine and a schedule for a greater sense of control; attend to physical needs and medical care to prevent disease and epidemics; control looting and human trafficking; listen and just be there for others; use local capacity and re-establish social structures for giving and receiving help; work with/through the man co-ordinating groups.
Resources
(Note: Most of the resources are from “internationally experienced” Northern/Western authors)
American Psychiatric Association(1994). Diagnostics and statistical manual of mental disorders. (1994, 4th ed.). Washington D.C. USA: Author.
American Psychological Association. (2003). Guidelines on multicultural education, training, research, practice, and organizational change for psychologists. American Psychogist, 58, 377-402.
Augsburger, D. (1992). Conflict mediation across cultures: Pathways and patterns. Louisville, Kentucky USA: Westminster.
Chinchen, D. (2003). African psychology: Established counseling techniques and practices. Evangelical Missions Quarterly, 40, 54-59
Gropper, R. (1996). Culture and clinical encounter: An intercultural sensitizer for the health professions. Yarmouth, Maine USA: Intercultural Press.
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. (2001). Managing stress on the field. Geneva, Switzerland: Author (www.ifrc.org)
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. (2001). Psychological support: Best practices from the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Geneva, Switzerland: Author
Lanier, S. (2000). Foreign to familiar: A guide to understanding hot and cold-climate cultures. Hagerstown, Maryland USA: McDougal Publishing. (tel: 1 800 962-3684)
Lingenfelter, S., & Mayers, M. (2003, 2nd ed.). Ministering cross-culturally: An incarnational model for personal relationships. Grand Rapids, MI USA: Baker Book House.
Marquardt, M., Berger, N., & Loan, P. (2004). Human resource development in the age of globalization. A practical guide to workplace learning in the 21st century. New York, USA: Basic Books.
Morrison, T., Conaway, W., & Borden, G. (1994). Kiss, bow, or shake hands: How to do business in 60 countries. Holbrook, Massachusetts USA: Adams Media.
Mwiti, G. (2005). Counselling in East Africa...
O’Donnell, K. (2005). Global voices: Listening to the A4 regions. (Unpublished paper).
O’Donnell, K. (2005). Upgrading member care: Five stones for ethical practice. (Unpublished paper.)
Patel, V. (2003). Where there is no psychiatrist: A mental health care manual. London, UK: Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Roembke, L. (2000). Building credible multicultural teams. Pasadena, California USA: William Carey.
Seligman, M., et al (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60, 410-421.
Storti, C. (199). Figuring foreigners out: A practical guide. Yarmouth, Maine USA: Intercultural Press.
Websites
Aid Workers Network: www.aidworkers.net
American Psychological Association: www.apa.org
Global Member Care Resources (MemCa): www.membercare.org
Intercultural Press: www.interculturalpress.org
People In Aid: www.peopleinaid.org
Society for Human Resource Management: www.shrm.org
World Health Organisation-Mental Health Department: www.who.int
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