Cultural Broker Initiative
Since 2009, the Center for Family Involvement has included staff acting as specialists and cultural brokers. The differences between the two are explained below.
Specialists
Specialists are a specific resource to families calling the Family to Family Network of Virginia for 1:1 emotional, informational and systems navigational support who represent that disability or a special community (e.g., deaf, mental health, rural, military).
Any parent can contact a Specialist directly (see contact information below). Specialists also recruit Family Navigators from across the state (not just from their home region) to support them and the F2F Network. To apply to become a Family Navigator, click the back button and click on APPLY NOW button at the top of the Family to Family Network page.
Dawn Peifer Snow: peiferdm@vcu.edu
Irene Schmalz - Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist
Patrice Beard: pabeard@vcu.edu
Lisa Richard: lrichard3@vcu.edu
Cultural Brokers
Cultural Brokers are specific to immigrant, refugee and/or racial/ethnically diverse populations. The primary role of Cultural Brokers is outreach to organizations and groups in Virginia (and country) with whom the CFI (and the Partnership for People with Disabilities) should partner with to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse families with children with disabilities. And, to represent the CFI on local, state, and national committees. Cultural Brokers take phone calls from diverse parents seeking support and support Local F2F Network Coordinators with recruiting culturally and linguistically diverse Family Navigators for their own region. To apply to become a culturally diverse Family Navigator, click the back button and click on APPLY NOW button at the bottom of the Family to Family Network page.
Amel Ibrahim: aoibrahim@vcu.edu
Mauretta Copeland: mcopeland@vcu.edu
Edgar Gamba: gambaef@vcu.edu
Download our Cultural Broker Flyer: View
The gap between theory and practice article - View
The promising practice of cultural brokering support article - view