SOMERVILLE – Culture is a strong part of people's lives. It influences their views, their values, their worries and fears. Understanding cultural differences helps people to establish relationships and build strong communities. The next Community Connections Workshop for parents, school staff and professionals who serve children and families will be a cultural competency program, with a focus on Latino and South Asian cultures.  According to the 2010 U.S. Census, these two populations are on the rise in Somerset County.

The workshop will be held 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, in conference room #1 on the first floor of the Somerset County Human Services building, located at 27 Warren St.  The program begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration, networking and light refreshments. 

The two keynote speakers are staff members from Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center in Bridgewater.  Ms. Vilma Ramirez is a bilingual therapist who conducts group and family therapy sessions and is responsible for outreach to the Somerset County Latino community.   Ramirez will identify health care risks, cultural issues, barriers to treatment and available community resources. 

Ms. Meera Bhatt, county Youth Case Management Program supervisor, will discuss aspects of South Asian cultures.  There are many diverse religions and cultures within South Asian.  Bhatt will identify stigmas, major concerns of South Asian parents, and common threads between subgroup cultures that may help providers work more easily with this population.

The fee for the workshop, which is sponsored by the Somerset County Office of Youth Services, is $20.  Checks should be payable to Friends of Somerset County Youth.   Professional development credits are available for the workshop.

For more information or to register, contact Cindy Britt, Somerset County Office of Youth Services, at britt@co.somerset.nj.us or (908) 704-6352.