Following the overview of the Human Genome Project (HGP), community genetic policy and education projects will be briefly summarized. This segment of the symposium is designed to provide participants with insight into the various strategies used to develop and implement multicultural genetic services. Participants will be introduced to a wide spectrum of approaches, including programmatic training, and development of community-based programs. Issues of developing and implementing culturally responsive genetic services will be addressed, including, but not limited to, the implications of culture on policy and evaluation, multicultural competence standards, and common misperceptions about racial-cultural issues in genetics. The session will highlight specific community projects as examples. The "Communities of Color and Genetics Policy Project" is a collaborative effort of three universities and fifteen community organizations that engage Latino and African American communities in a dialogue on "new genetics" and a process of developing recommendations for laws, professional standards, and institutional policies regarding the use and application of genome research and its resulting technology. Strategies to engage Latino and African American communities in the development of public policy that reflects the values and concerns of their communities will be shared. Selected Native American cultural issues related to contemporary genetic research such as recombinant DNA, storage of specimens, migration and creation stories, and the patenting of traditional medicinal plants will be briefly highlighted. Suggestions and guidelines for ways to improve the likelihood that future genetic research efforts will be conducted in culturally respectful manners will also be shared.
Learning Objectives: a. Describe strategies for the development and implementation of culturally responsive genetic services. b. Analyze a process for engaging African American and Latino communities of diverse socio-economic levels in the deliberation of policy issues related to genome research and its resulting technology. c. understand the socio-political context of the conceptualization, development and implementation of multicultural competent genetic research and services for Asian in America with a focus on intra- and intergroup program interventions. d. explain selected special concerns of Native Americans that are related to contemporary genetic research. e. Describe guidelines and ways that future genetic research could be conducted to be culturally respectful and allow for informed decision making by local communities
Keywords: Culture, Genetics
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.