PBH (Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare) held its 1st Cultural Competence Conference on February 9, 2007. The conference, entitled Cultural Competence: Moving From Illusion to Reality, was held @ the Embassy Suites Hotel & Convention Center in Concord, NC.

This conference provided agencies, professionals, and consumers with a level of awareness and knowledge about the varied dimensions of Cultural Competence and the value of providing and receiving culturally competent care. Over 300 conference attendees from across the state participated in enlightening keynote addresses by Edwin Nichols PhD, Nichols & Associates & King Davis PhD, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health - University of Texas @ Austin. Additional speakers included Peggy McIntosh PhD, Wilma Townsend, Pam Lassister PhD, Martica Baccallo PhD, Jerome Hanley PhD, Hasan Davis, Ben Hollingsworth, & Julienne Gold-Brunson. Secretary Carmen Hooker-Odom, NCDHHS and Mike Moseley, Director of NC DMH/DD/SAS concluded the conference with a discussion on the next steps of North Carolina’s Cultural Competence Initiatives.

PBH continues to encourage and promote cultural competence within our agency, within the PBH provider network, and across the state of North Carolina. For additional information on PBH’s Cultural Competence Initiatives, please click here.