Blog

Dr. Samantha Sweeney on raising 'Culturally Competent Kids'

From WAMC Northeast Public Radio

"On this week’s 51%, we chat with psychologist Dr. Samantha Sweeney about why teaching your kids to celebrate diversity is important to their success as adults – and how to do it. Sweeney lays out a guide for parents in her new book Culturally Competent Kids: Raising Children to Thrive in a Diverse World."

You can listen here

More about this book

This book is for the parent who knows that culture is important. It is for the parent who wants to teach their child about the world around them, but doesn’t know where to start. Let this book be your starting point and your guide.

The goal of Culturally Competent Kids is to help you raise your children to become adults who respect and celebrate differences, rather than simply tolerating them.

Research shows that while biases begin to develop at age 6, their origins begin much earlier. Unfortunately, diversity and culture are treated as though they are “grownup” concepts, as if children don’t recognize that diversity is all around them. Human beings naturally categorize and your kids will develop preferences, prejudices, and opinions about people who are different from them. Therefore, it is important for parents to take an active role in helping their children see, understand, and develop their understanding of people and cultures that are different. 

As Dr. Sweeney says, “We don’t have to all be friends, or even like each other, to treat each other with respect.”

This book provides a science-based framework with ideas and options to explore as you embark on this cultural competence journey with your kids and also with yourself.

About the Author 

Dr. Samantha Sweeney is a licensed psychologist, author, and educator in Washington, DC. She has a private practice on Capitol Hill serving kids, families, and adults. Her first book, Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents on How to Support Anxious Children, gives parents practical tools to support their children. She is a cultural competence expert dedicated to helping kids and parents develop this essential skill through consultations, presentations and workshops.

A book for parents that provides a science-based framework 

Culturally Competent Kids is for the parent who knows that culture is important. 

It is for the parent who wants to teach their child about the world around them, but doesn’t know where to start. Let this book be your starting point and your guide.

The goal of Culturally Competent Kids is to help you raise your children to become adults who respect and celebrate differences, rather than simply tolerating them.

Research shows that while biases begin to develop at age 6, their origins begin much earlier. Unfortunately, diversity and culture are treated as though they are “grownup” concepts, as if children don’t recognize that diversity is all around them. Human beings naturally categorize and your kids will develop preferences, prejudices, and opinions about people who are different from them. Therefore, it is important for parents to take an active role in helping their children see, understand, and develop their understanding of people and cultures that are different. 

As the author, Dr. Sweeney says, “We don’t have to all be friends, or even like each other, to treat each other with respect.”

In the clip below, she introduces the book. 

About the Author 

Dr. Samantha Sweeney is a licensed psychologist, author, and educator in Washington, DC. She has a private practice on Capitol Hill serving kids, families, and adults. Her first book, Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents on How to Support Anxious Children, gives parents practical tools to support their children. She is a cultural competence expert dedicated to helping kids and parents develop this essential skill through consultations, presentations and workshops.

Licensed psychologist, author, and educator based in Washington, DC, Dr. Samantha Sweeney joins The Perkins Platform to share her work and discuss anxiety in children and some of the potential causes behind its rise. Dr. Sweeney has a private practice on Capitol Hill, where she supports children, families, and adults. She holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland and a psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Her background includes work in both public and private schools, with experience as a preschool teacher, school psychologist, researcher, and university instructor. An expert in cultural competence, she is passionate about helping families raise confident, inclusive children.

Dr. Sweeney is the author of Working With Worry: A Workbook for Parents on How to Support Anxious Children, and her upcoming book, Culturally Competent Kids, is designed to help families thrive in a diverse world. In therapy, she focuses on empowerment, connection, and honoring the whole person behind the challenges they face. 

LISTEN

About The Perkins Platform

In its 13th year, The Perkins Platform is a series of expertly facilitated conversations with world experts in a variety of disciplines. These conversations illuminate problems, issues and solutions faced and considered by aspiring and veteran leaders.

AN EASY-TO-READ GUIDE ABOUT PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, AND BABY CARE

 

All you need to know to make healthy choices that feel right for you before, during, and after pregnancy.

• - Sexual health – family planning before, during, and after pregnancy. How to track periods, avoid STIs, and take care of your body.
  
  
• - Pregnancy – how a baby forms and grows, and how your body changes in pregnancy. All about prenatal care, such as prenatal tests and what to expect at checkups.
  
  
• - Staying healthy – exercise, healthy eating, vaccines, avoiding germs, and making healthy habits. Tips for coping with hard feelings and mood changes.
  
  
• - Birth – how to get ready and what to expect for vaginal and c-section births. Labor tips, coping with pain, and important things to know. Also covers how to help your body heal after birth.
  
  
• - Baby – all about how to take care of your newborn. Covers breastfeeding, bottle feeding, circumcision, vaccines, car seats, and how to keep your new baby healthy and safe.

Also includes tips for partners, checklists, a glossary, and a list of resources to find more help. 

About the Authors

Jenny B. Harvey brings experience in human development, family support, injury prevention, perinatal health, and infant care. Jenny has spent her career supporting, educating, and empowering families to be healthy, safe, and happy.

Deborah D. Stewart has made a career of making complex information understandable as a health professional and advocate for children's safety. She spent time in the Peace Corps and with Planned Parenthood, working in family planning and nutrition in both organizations. In the last decade she has focused on the health issues of mothers and children from pregnancy through the early years of childhood. 

These resources are designed to accompany Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 5th Edition, Living a Healthy with Chronic Pain, 2nd Edition, and Aging Well with HIV. 

This list includes suggested further readings, useful websites, and other helpful resources. It's compiled by the authors of the book and maintained by the publisher.

Getting Started - Index

To get started, select a topic below. Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Other things you might need

Visit the Self-Management Resource Centre | Millions of adults live with one or more chronic health conditions. Our programs help people and their caregivers manage their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs.

Looking for copies of My Action Plan, charts, worksheets, or Self Tests that appear in the books? You can download copies from our website. 

• - Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 5th Edition
• - Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain, 2nd Edition

Report a broken link  | If you would like to report a broken link or make a suggestion, please contact us. 

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

Healthcare.gov | A government-sponsored website that explains how people with preexisting conditions can be covered under the new law

Choosing a Health Plan | How to Evaluate Different Options

Insure Kids Now! | National campaign to link the nation's uninsured children -- from birth to age 18 -- to free and low-cost health insurance

Partnership for Prescription Assistance | Resource for finding programs to help cover prescription medication

J. Kiffin Penry Patient Travel Assistance Fund | Epilepsy Foundation fund to help families who must travel more than 50 miles for medical care

The Catalyst Center | National center dedicated to improving health care insurance and financing for youth with special health care needs

From the Epilepsy Foundation

- Sample Seizure Action Plan | https://www.epilepsy.com/preparedness-safety/action-plans

- Medical Marijuana | https://www.epilepsy.com/treatment/alternative-therapies/medical-marijuana

- SUDEP | https://www.epilepsy.com/complications-risks/early-death-sudep

Additional sources

- Rare Epilepsy Network | https://www.rareepilepsynetwork.org/

- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/ 
Dial 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor. They are available 24 hours a day, 7-days a week. 

- List of Seizure Medications | https://www.epilepsy.com/stories/summary-anti-seizure-medications

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

e-cigarettes

• - National Insitute on Drug Abuse, Vaping Devices | https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes
• - National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Vaping and Health: What Do We Know about E-Cigarettes? | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4154203/

American Thoracic Society

• - Why do I smoke and why do I keep smoking? https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/why-do-i-smoke.pdf 
• - Outdoor air pollution and your health https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/outdoor-air-pollution.pdf  

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders | https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders

- This article by the National Institute on Deafness and other communication disorders describes assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders.

MAYO Clinic Hearing aids: How to choose the right one | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/in-depth/hearing-aids/art-20044116

Federal Trade Commission: A place to search for general consumer advice | https://consumer.ftc.gov/

Healthline: Hearing and Speech Impairment Resources | https://www.healthline.com/health/hearing-or-speech-impairment-resources 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Find resources to help you understand communication and communication disorders | https://www.asha.org/

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): Assistive Devices for People with Hearing or Speech Disorders | https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders

European Federation of Hard of Hearing People | https://efhoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EFHOH-Survey-European-Standard-EN-15927-2010-Services-offered-by-hearing-aid-professionals.pdf  

- This link discusses the trial period and follow up on hearing aids in Europe.

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

Choosing Wisely | http://www.choosingwisely.org/

Nonprofit collaboration of over 70 major medical organizations that reviews evidence on tests and treatments that are overused and should be avoided. Promotes conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is: supported by evidence, not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received, free from harm, and truly necessary.

• - Patient Pamphlets for Canadians https://choosingwiselycanada.org/patient-pamphlets

Also, has a free downloadable app for Apple and Android devices

Consumer Lab | https://www.consumerlab.com/ 

Independent testing on nutritional products.

Consumer Reports | https://www.consumerreports.org 

Reviews and evaluates both alternative and conventional treatments and products.

Drugs.com | https://www.drugs.com/

Information on medications, pill identifier, interactions checker and more.

Food and Drug Administration

• - FDA 100: Dietary Supplements: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-101-dietary-supplements
  
  
• - 10 Facts about What FDS Does and Does Not Approve: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/10-facts-about-what-fda-does-and-does-not-approve
  
  
• - HIV and AIDS: Medicines to Help You: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/hiv-and-aids-medicines-help-you
  
  
• - Caring for Others: Resources to Help You: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/caring-others-resources-help-you
  
  
• - What You Need to Know (And What We’re Working to Find Out) About
  Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds, Including CBD: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis

Health Canada: Licensed National Health Products Database | https://health-products.canada.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/index-eng.jsp

Website maintained by the government of Canada. It contains information about natural health products that have been issued a product license by Health Canada. It includes information on vitamin and mineral supplements, herb and plant-based remedies, traditional medicines such as Traditional Chinese Medicines or Ayurvedic (Indian) Medicines, homeopathic medicines, and many everyday consumer products. 

Medline Plus

• - Drugs, Health and Supplements https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html
• - Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine https://medlineplus.gov/webeval/webeval.html

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine | https://nccih.nih.gov/

A government agency providing research-based info. 

National Institute on Aging: Safe Use of Medications for Older Adults | https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/safe-use-medicines-older-adults

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database | https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ 

Clinical data on approximately 90,000 herbal products, dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic products, Ayurvedic medicines, complementary alternative medicines, integrative therapies, alternative treatments (such as acupuncture), traditional Chinese medicines products, and other natural remedies as well as a Natural Product / Drug Interaction Checker. 

The Public Health Agency of Canada: A-Z Index | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/a-z.html

US Preventive Services Task Force | https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/ 

An independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that provide critical reviews of various screening tests and medical treatments for both professionals and consumers

• - Information for consumers https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Tools/ConsumerInfo/Index/information-for-consumers

WebMD: Drugs and Medications A to Z | https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/index

Print

Griffith, H. Winter, and Stephen W. Moore. Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs, 2018-2019. New York: Perigee Books, 2019.

Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu. 

Websites

American Cancer Society | https://www.cancer.org/

Website features: news, information on types of cancer, patient services, treatment options, sections on children with cancer and living with cancer, and cancer statistics.

• - Treatments and Side Effects https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects.html
  
• - Nutrition for People With Cancer
  Learn about nutrition needs during treatment and how to manage treatment side effects that could affect how well you eat https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/6711.00.pdf

Cancer.Net | https://www.cancer.net/

The official website for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with insights, tips, and inspirational posts on cancer, written by cancer physicians.

• - Making Decisions About Cancer Treatment https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/making-decisions-about-cancer-treatment 

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society | https://www.lls.org/

• - Making Treatment Decisions https://www.lls.org/managing-your-cancer/making-treatment-decisions