The Greater Illinois Chapter Teams Up with the Chinese American Service League
We are excited to announce a formal collaboration between the Alzheimer’s Association ®, Greater Illinois Chapter and the Chinese American Service League (CASL). Both organizations share common priorities and interests in reaching the Chinese community with important messages relating to Alzheimer’s detection, diagnosis, care, treatment, research and advocacy.
We are excited to announce a formal collaboration between Chinese American Service League (CASL) and the Alzheimer’s Association ®, Greater Illinois Chapter. This is an exciting partnership that draws upon the unique knowledge of both organizations to achieve common goals.
The Greater Illinois Chapter will partner with CASL to elevate training for CASL’s team of care professionals working though CASL’s Elderly Service Department. Both organizations share common priorities and interests in reaching the Chinese community with important messages relating to Alzheimer’s detection, diagnosis, care, treatment, research and advocacy.
CASL is committed to finding ways to engage the Chinese community in the fight against Alzheimer’s through education, support, and grass root activation.
Alzheimer’s Disease affects more than 5 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in the Unites States.
Overview of Partnership
This collaboration addresses internal and external needs for Alzheimer’s information and support within the Chinese community and engages the Chinese community in the full mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. With an emphasis on training, support, and grassroots activation overlaid with a focus on the unique needs of the Chinese community, this promises to be an evolving partnership that engages both organizations for a long period of time.
Key Initiatives
CASL and the Greater Illinois Chapter are committed to a strategic and multipronged partnership approach that will evolve as we identify needs, learn best practices, understand the unique cultural needs of the community and explore additional opportunities to engage the Chinese community in the full mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. The current key initiatives of this collaboration are further defined below and include:
– Co-development of culturally–appropriate Alzheimer’s training
– Establishment of support groups within the Chinese community at CASL
– Identification and/or creation of materials in Chinese language
– Culturally-sensitive training for Greater Illinois Chapter staff to learn how to engage with the Chinese community
Key Initiatives Defined
Culturally Appropriate Training
This collaboration provides both organizations with an opportunity to draw from the unique experiences, challenges and knowledge of the other. CASL and Greater Illinois Chapter staff will co-develop training for the Chinese community about Alzheimer’s disease. Association staff will teach key English-speaking CASL staff to deliver the training and who will, in turn, teach their Chinese speaking fellow staff to deliver the training. The opportunity will afford each partner the chance to identify and address the challenges of working in two different languages.
Support Groups
The Greater Illinois Chapter will include key representatives from CASL in support group training and assist in the formation of one or more groups at CASL’s location in Chinatown.
Materials
Both parties will seek to identify materials that are already translated in Chinese and available for CASL to establish an Alzheimer’s resource center on site at their facility.
Culturally-Sensitive Training for GIC Staff
CASL will provide training to Greater Illinois Chapter staff about the Chinese community to improve GIC’s ability to engage with the Chinese community.
Additional activities have been identified for expansion of the partnership at the appropriate time.
About the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter:
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s research, care and support. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter serves 68 counties in Illinois. Since 1980, the Chapter has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes.
About Chinese American Service League (CASL)
A nurturing hub within the heart of Chinatown, the Chinese American Service League (CASL) connects families and individuals of all ages with the vital support they need to thrive and contribute to the greater Chicago community. CASL is the largest, most comprehensive social service agency in the Midwest dedicated to serving the needs of Chinese Americans. We provide child services, elder services, employment training services, family counseling, and housing and financial education to over 17,000 clients of all ages and backgrounds each year.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php