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ABCD Cultural Translation for Health Advocacy

Last Updated: December 8, 2003

Name of Organization/Institution: Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

Keywords: Training/Education, Non-English speakers

Description of best practice: At its most basic, “Cultural Translation for Health Advocacy” consists of a three step process to train bilingual advocates in specific health areas, who then deliver culturally-appropriate workshops on the chosen topic to community parents in their own language.

1. "Train the Trainers": Training with English language content specialists
2. Cultural/linguistic "Translation" into chosen language format by the advocates
3. Workshop in said language for that community’s parents or other care-givers

While the original pilot worked with bi-lingual Haitian advocates on asthma prevention, which the advocates then presented in Haitian Creole to parents of asthmatic young children, the model is flexible to include any linguistic/cultural minority group which would benefit by learning about health related issues in their own language and from members of their own culture who are sensitive to that culture’s needs and approaches.

The pilot project confirmed that the Haitian community will listen to information presented in their own language. Haitian parents stayed to end of the workshops, actively asked questions and have requested additional workshops in own Creole language. This behavior is noticeably different from their behavior at English language parent workshops, evaluation interviews with Head Start specialists have indicated. The Haitian advocates who presented the workshops enjoy both respect and standing in their community. Members responded better to them and opened up more than to outsiders, even if “credentialed. ”

In addition, while the training of advocates by asthma control specialists took place – of necessity – in English, the advocates then deliberately were given the time and linguistic "space" to plan their own workshop in Haitian Creole. This was vital. It resulted in much higher advocate involvement in ensuing discussion as they felt more comfortable speaking in their own language. Likewise, they were better able to prepare a culturally and linguistically Haitian workshop when thinking and speaking in that language.

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Center for Community Health, Education, Research and Service