The purpose of the study is to provide an understanding of the emotional and cultural needs Latinos experience when grieving the loss of a loved one. Current research shows that the Latino community is less likely to seek mental health treatment including end of life and bereavement services. This study uses a qualitative approach examining participant’s experiences during the bereaved phase focusing on emotional needs. The study reveals that Latinos experience emotional distress during bereavement and grief. It also identifies a scarcity of programs designed to meet the needs of the bereaved of Latino communities in the Inland Empire where this study takes place. The study explores different barriers that prevent Latinos from accessing and utilizing bereavement services among Latino communities, social work professionals, and organizations focusing on emotional and mental health. The study reveals that Latinos have a need for culturally sensitive programs to help them process feelings of grief and loss; language, values, and traditions are identified as main cultural characteristics including family and religion. The study identifies support groups, counseling, home visits, and phone calls as the top bereavement services needed in Latino communities as well as professionals who can understand their cultural needs.

Lietuvoje profesionalioji kultūra yra susikoncentravusi ties didžiaisiais kultūros centrais didžiuosiuose miestuose. Kuo toliau į šalies pakraščius, tuo profesionaliosios kultūros sklaida mažėja, o kokybė prastėja. Kultūros sektorius yra vienas didžiausių veiksnių, kuriantis vietos patrauklumą ir parodantis jos išskirtinį veidą. Darbe analizuojama, kaip vyksta kultūros sektoriaus decentralizacija; kokie yra pagrindiniai veiksniai, skatinantys kultūros sektoriaus atsinaujinimą regionuose bei kas ir kokios organizacijos turi įtakos kuriant vietos patrauklumą ir išskirtinumą. Taip pat ypatingas dėmesys yra kreipiamas pasirinkto atvejo - Kupiškio miesto kultūros sektoriaus išsamiai analizei:tiriami gyventojų kultūriniai poreikiai,prioritetai bei lūkesčiai; kultūros organizacijų tinklas ir bandoma apibrėžti jų atsinaujinimo perspektyvas. Analizuojama, kas įtakoja ir kas galėtų įtakoti kultūros lauko atsinaujinimo ir Kupiškio kaip vietos patrauklumo kūrimo procesus. / The professional culture is focused on the major cultural centers in major cities in Lithuania. The further into the nation’s borders the dissemination of professional culture decreases and its quality is getting worse. In addition to cultural sector is one of the major factors that creates the local attractiveness and shows its particularity. In this Thesis are analyzing which ways and how the cultural sector decentralization goes. Moreover there is trying to investigate what the main factors are stimulating the cultural sector renewal in regions and what types of cultural organizations have an influence in creating local attractiveness and distinctiveness. In addition to the most attention is paid to Kupiškis case study. There is investigating the cultural sector situation, and what has and what could have influence into renewal of culture field and creation of local attractiveness processes in Kupiškis.