Improving the delivery of health care and social services to culturally diverse elders
Somewhere between committed membership and spirited leadership is the layer of magic that brings a coalition alive and fuels its accomplishments. That's the way it is with the Multicultural Coalition on Aging (MCA) in Boston. The MCA is a coalition of agencies, institutions and individuals providing health and social services to older people in the greater Boston area inclusive of many racial, cultural and linguistic groups. Working with little formal structure and no budget, the coalition has sustained itself through eleven years of remarkable growth and accomplishment.
Begun in 1994, Coalition members had an initial goal of presenting a health information conference for those older adults who were underserved due to barriers such as poverty, race, culture and language. The first program included workshops on financial planning; housing options; spiritual, emotional and physical health; nutrition and exercise; the doctor-patient relationship; and obtaining home-based support services. These were presented in English, Spanish, Chinese and Haitian Kreyol and more than 250 caregivers from diverse backgrounds attended. The success of this program was a potent demonstration to coalition members of their capacity to increase access to health education for all older adults in Boston. Following came several conferences on cultural competence for professionals and organizations, and a succession of Aging Well Together multilingual consumer conferences to disseminate health information and increase access to care. The 2006 conference, "Aging Well Together: Our Health is in Our Hands" featured bilingual, bicultural professionals sharing information in ten languages to 280 culturally and linguistically diverse older adults.
Coalition members currently numbering over 75, represent hospitals, city and state government agencies, homecare providers, nonprofit groups, social service and advocacy agencies, neighborhood health centers, university-based research centers, churches and housing organizations. The MCA benefits from meeting space and administrative underwriting from the Hebrew SeniorLife (formerly Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged) in Boston, through sponsorships for its health conference and from a recent and small membership fee. All labor for the group is voluntary.
Benefits of Membership What brings 60 people to the same non-descript room in Roslindale month after month for over ten years?
Members
establish relationships with agencies serving diverse populations to build capacity for collaborative projects – a tiny agency may receive a needed service from a large agency and in return provide cultural or linguistic consulting which is invaluable to the larger agency
expand outreach efforts beyond their typical reach to culturally diverse elders
Build capacity to respond to increased competition and dwindling resources. Key to competent service delivery, agency survival
Respond to changes in demographics: number of elderly, racial and linguistic diversity
enhance grant proposals through collaboration with the MCA
participate in monthly education to gain insight on cultural competence
network with peers who represent various disciplines and ethnicities, and build relationships with colleagues from other agencies,
Increase cultural relevance of products or services
Collaborative development of programs and materials
MCA members have provided workshops at numerous professional conferences, discussing the challenges and rewards of providing services to diverse populations and presenting the coalition's approach as a model for the delivery of care, education, research and community partnerships. The MCA has garnered awards, including recognition from local cultural organizations, from the City of Boston and from the State of Massachusetts. Most importantly, the coalition has gained the attention of the community of organizations in the Boston area that provide services to elders, and it has served those older adults who face the most difficult challenges to leading healthy lives in our city. For more information on the MCA, and to attend a monthly meeting please contact the Chair, Marcie Freeman, at freeman@hrca.harvard.edu or 617-363- 8654 or by email at freeman@hrca.harvard.edu.
