The Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC) at the University of Guam announces its next installment, featuring a lecture by MARC Research Associate, Dr. Samuel Betances. His presentation entitled “Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Strength-based, Trauma-Informed Care on Guam and throughout the Micronesian region,” is on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CLASS) Lecture Hall on the UOG campus.

“This presentation will explore the need for and development of cross cultural awareness and sensitivity to enhance implementation of best practices in the provision of care for the high percentage of people who have experienced trauma in our island communities. Traumatic experiences, especially early in life, are important root causes affecting physical and mental health risk and decreasing life expectancy. Betances will explore how multidisciplinary teams can work together to provide optimal strength-based, trauma-informed care, which is culturally grounded, to those in need of their services."

MARC is considered a world-class research facility for social sciences and humanities studies of the people of Micronesia. Everyone intent on learning about the culture, history, and language of the people in this region must visit MARC’s research library. The lectures are open to the public, free of charge and will be held on the second or third Tuesday of every month beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Samuel Betances, PhD is an internationally renowned, persuasive and entertaining keynoter and workshop presenter. He taught at Northeastern Illinois University as a Full Professor of Sociology for 25 years. He also taught courses for the University of Guam in Saipan and other areas in Micronesia and has conducted seminars on the need for increasing the cultural competencies of healthcare and other service providers. Most recently, he delivered a series of lectures on healthcare disparities and cross-cultural perspectives on trauma-informed care to professionals at Bronx- Lebanon Hospital.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Rlene Steffy at (671) 888-1010 or email at rsteffy@triton.uog.edu.