Poughkeepsie…. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Dutchess County will offer two opportunities to learn about Cultural Humility on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 3 p.m., and Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 7 p.m. Both educational presentations will be held at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, 392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie.  The training is free and open to the public, but registration prior to the event is required. Seating is limited.

“We ask our MRC volunteers to understand cultural humility so they are able to offer the most compassionate assistance to the members of our diverse community when deployed,” said A. K. Vaidian, MD, MPH, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH). “The discussion and the techniques learned, however, can truly benefit anyone who interacts with customers, patients, and others each day.”

Cultural humility refers to a willingness to suspend what a person knows, or thinks they know, about other people based on generalizations about their culture. Led by DBCH Psychologist Christopher St.Germain, Ph.D., the program will take a look at historical influence on our cultural perspective, teach the importance of recognizing the culture of others, and review why cultural humility is so vital in today’s world. Attendees will learn practical methods and techniques they can use to integrate cultural humility into their daily lives.

The Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County is part of a national network of more than 200,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting public health infrastructure as well as disaster preparedness and response in the community.  Both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are always needed.

For more information about the Medical Reserve Corps, or to register, please contact MRC Coordinator Joe Ryan at (845) 486-2493 or jryan@dutchessny.gov.  For information on upcoming trainings, visit www.DutchessNY.gov/MRC.