WIPHL Speaker Series1 La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc Ward Avenue La Crosse, WI Phone: (608) Fax: (608) “Working with the Hmong: What You Need To Know” by Thai Vue, Executive Director Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles ( WIPHL) Speaker Series: “Delivering Services to Multilingual Communities” Thursday, February 28, 2008, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WIPHL Speaker Series2 About Thai Vue A Hmong political refugee from Laos Arrived in the U.S. in 1979 Executive Director of the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc. (HMAA) Been with agency for 22 years Worked on various levels of government: city, state, federal –WI Tobacco Disparity Planning Group –WI Cancer Control Committee –WI Public Health Council

WIPHL Speaker Series3 Main Objectives 1. The Challenge : Understanding the dilemma in delivering quality health care services to the Hmong in Wisconsin. 2. The Opportunity: Understanding the health care service market available in the Hmong communities through out Wisconsin. 3. The Awareness: The basic foundation, in which provides a road map, in health care service delivery - the importance of history, culture, religion, and language that impacts health care providers and its consumers - the Hmong. 4. Health Care Service Delivery: Some do’s and don’ts in health care service delivery to the Hmong population.

WIPHL Speaker Series4 1. The Challenge Barriers in Accessing Health Care Services: A. Cultural – extend family decision, gender roles, causes B. Religion – emphasis on spiritual, ancestor curse C. Language – English deficiency E. Education – limited understanding of overall health matters on the older population Barriers Among Health Care Providers: A. Not a profitable investment on Hmong resources B. In-adequate technical support C. Lack of interest in the infrastructure D. Unwilling to invest personnel time

WIPHL Speaker Series5 2. The Opportunity The marketing opportunity: A. There is about 12,000,000 Hmong worldwide B. About 250,000 Hmong live in the U.S. C. Estimated 50,000 Hmong live in Wisconsin The Hmong economic impact: A. Hmong in Wisconsin generated $235,575,000 in earned income - based on 2000 census B. 66% is under 26 years of age - La Crosse HMAA Statistics

WIPHL Speaker Series6 3. The Awareness A. The U.S. Secret War in Laos - the CIA and the Hmong * U.S. involvement in Laos * U.S. pulled out of Laos B. Hmong Cultures * Strong clan tied * Extended family * Relatives and in-laws C. Hmong Religion Believes * Hmong Religion (often referred to as Animism) * Hmong Christian D. Hmong Language * White Hmong Dialect * Green Hmong Dialect

WIPHL Speaker Series7 Some dos: -Use credible (certified, from Hmong agency) translators. -Ensure translator speaks good Hmong, speaking good English does not mean they speak good Hmong. -Ask where Hmong interpreter acquired his/her interpretation skills. -Use credible organization to help screen Hmong translators. -Be open and be direct. -Be willing to take time to explain subject matter. -Use visual materials if all possible. -Understand the gender sensitivity. -Learn the basic Hmong cultural & healing practices. -Awareness of deficiency in subject background. -Have Hmong professional on staff. -Outreach to Hmong agencies - a statewide agency represents most Hmong agencies in Wisconsin. 4. Health Care Service Delivery

WIPHL Speaker Series8 Some don’ts: -Assume all Hmong have the same basic understanding of health care needs. -Assume people speaking good English or holding a good job can be a good Hmong translator. -Use family member for sensitive translation: women’s health, men’s health, prenatal care, birth control, etc. -Assume that every Hmong understand the Hmong cultural and tradition that impact the lives of the Hmong people. -Use Hmong professional to do Hmong in-service training to staff unless such person has Hmong cultural competency training experience.

WIPHL Speaker Series9 I will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Also, please feel free to contact me should you have any further or future questions. THANK YOU