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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 26, 2003 <br />Action Agen <br />Item No, -~. <br />SUBJECT: Cultural Awareness Building Training Agreement <br />DEPARTMENT: Personnel <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Cultural Awareness Building Training <br />Agreement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Kathleen Goodhand, ext 2556 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732-8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688-7331 <br />336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approval of a training agreement with training facilitator Dr. Henry <br />Meguid to complete cultural awareness building training for all Orange County employees. <br />BACKGROUND: In June 1999, the Board adopted a goal, "To assess and respond to the <br />needs of the growing Hispanic/Latino population in Orange County." As part of this goal, the <br />Board decided to implement cultural diversity training for County employees. In March 2002, <br />Phase 1: General Cultural Diversity Training was completed for all current employees. In <br />December 2002, the Board approved Phase 2: Cultural Awareness Building training and <br />approved the training agreement with Dr. Henry Meguid to implement this training. <br />Phase 2 of the Cultural Diversity initiative is designed to move participants beyond an <br />awareness of cultural differences by building skills and increasing employees' ability to work <br />effectively in a multicultural environment. This training is tailored to meet the needs of individual <br />departments and to provide education and culture specific information about the <br />Hispanic/Latino and Asian communities, as well as others. <br />The course objectives are to: <br />Understand the need for developing cultural knowledge and skills in today's workforce <br />and community <br />^ Understand how culture impacts behavior and relationships with our customers <br />^ Develop skills in applying knowledge about different cultural groups to improve <br />customer satisfaction <br />Since December 2002, the County has completed 10 Cultural Awareness Building training <br />classes and provided training to over 300 employees. As developed, the training is meeting the <br />