Strength, Hope and Cultural Competency with Dr. Linda Kongnetiman

Dr. Linda Kongnetiman is a Provincial Manager in Addiction and Mental Health. She holds a PhD in Social Work and is an instructor at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Linda played a vital role in the development of Canada’s National Standards of Cultural and Linguistic Competency, has written extensively on the subject of cultural competency in health care, presented on the topic world-wide, and is much sought after for clinical consultations. A committed social justice advocate, she has worked tirelessly as a diversity coordinator to address barriers and cross-cultural issues facing both health-care providers and families. Her training and research focuses on preparing professionals for working in global contexts. She is the recipient of the People’s First Award from the former Calgary Health Region, and the Pulse of Social Work Advocacy Award.

This session will look at the experiences of racialized communities, the impact of immigration on a personal, professional and institutional level, and how racism translates into a determinant of health. We will explore what cultural competency means, why it is so important, and what it resembles at an individual and institutional level.