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Making Visible the Invisible:Cross-Cultural Practices in

Measurement and Assessment

Yvonne ChiuCo-Director Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op

Winnie ChowProject Manager ECMERC

Figure 1. The journey from home country toCanada

Life inhomecountry•distinctgenderroles•strongsocialsupportsystem•comfortable life

Life intherefugeecamp•no basicamenities•foodandsuppliesrationed•noschoolforchildren

Lifeduringcrisis•escapefrom war•survival offamily•disruptionofeducation•arduousimmigrationprocess•urbanrefugeesituation

Life inCanada

settlement& survival transition

tointegration

•unfamiliaritywith newenvironment

•different climate &culture•emotional stress(loneliness &isolation)•parenting isdifficult•discrimination•inadequate housing,employment, andservices•different schoolsystem•spousal relationshipchanges (genderroles, intimacy)

Figure 2. Deepening our understanding of the immigrant andrefugee experience: a cultural approach

Figure 3. Cultural pathways to early childhooddevelopment from the immigrant and refugee experience

Factors to Consider in ChildDevelopment

• Family History and Context of Migration• Living Environment• Fine Muscle Development• Social and Language Development

Nipissing Developmental Screen

Examples:Q10. Crawl up the stairs/steps?

Activities for your Baby…Fine Muscle Large Muscle

Learning/ Thinking

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MCHB Foundation for Practice

• Relationship based• Collaborative• Capacity Building

Cultural Validity of ASQ Study

There is limited literature and research onpreschool development screening from theperspective of immigrant and refugee familiesthat addresses the invisible barrier to culturallyresponsive practice.

Are the screening tools/processes we use withimmigrant and refugee families culturallyappropriate?

Research Methodology

• Community Based Research• Strength-based Collaboration• Capacity Building Embedded in the

Research Methodology and Methods

Capacity Building

• Research Assistant Training

Research Methods

• Interviews with MCHB brokers and familiesinvolved in the PDS (Chinese, South Asianand Sudanese).

• ASQ Tool Review with MCHB (18M, 36Mand SE).

• Statistical Analysis of ASQ database fromthe PDS project.

To Make Visible the Invisible

Knowledge Mobilization:• Community Forum (November 2008)• Academic and Community Presentations• Partner Sharing within PDS project

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For More Information

Winnie Chow(780) 492-7453wwchow@ualberta.ca

Yvonne Chuimchb@interbaun.com(780) 423-1973