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La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc.1815 Ward AvenueLa Crosse, WI 54601Phone: (608)781-5744Fax: (608)781-5011

“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.

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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

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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.

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1. The Challenge

Barriers in Accessing Health Care Services:A. Cultural – extend family decision, gender roles, causesB. Religion – emphasis on spiritual, ancestor curseC. Language – English deficiencyE. Education – limited understanding of overall health

matters on the older population

Barriers Among Health Care Providers:A. Not a profitable investment on Hmong resourcesB. In-adequate technical supportC. Lack of interest in the infrastructureD. Unwilling to invest personnel time

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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

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3. The Awareness

A. The U.S. Secret War in Laos - the CIA and the Hmong

*1960 - U.S. involvement in Laos *1975 - 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

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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 - www.wucmaa.org a statewide agency represents most Hmong agencies in Wisconsin.

4. Health Care Service Delivery

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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.

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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