The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health defines culturally and linguistically competent services as those that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices and needs of diverse patients. In Systems of Care cultural and linguistic competence is one of the core values: “Systems of Care are culturally and linguistically competent, with agencies, programs, and services that reflect the cultural, racial, ethnic, and linguistic differences of the populations they serve to facilitate access to and utilization of appropriate services and supports.” Culturally and linguistically competent systems aim to reduce health care disparities among different populations and achieve health equity for all individuals in that system regardless of culture, social status, or socially determined circumstances.
As a way to guide the practice of cultural and linguistically competent care, the Office of Minority Health developed the National CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) Standards in 2000.
The CLAS standards can be found on their website at this link: click here
More resources on cultural competence and health care equity can be found on these websites:
Demographic Description % of Total Population CSA Children Served: By Race/Ethnicity |
FY16 |
---|---|
African American | 31.5% |
American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.1% |
Asian | 1.1% |
White (non-Hispanic) | 55.4% |
Hispanic or Latino | 6.1% |
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 0.1% |
Unable to determine | 5.6% |
By Gender | |
Female | 39.4% |
Male | 60.6% |
National data shows the prevalence of unmet mental health needs in both African American and Hispanic youth is higher than that for white youth. For more information on prevalence and treatment of mental health disorders in youth go to this webpage: click here
System of Care Grant sites in Virginia developed disparity impact statements addressing how they plan to serve and support minority and underserved populations in their regions. For more on how to create a disparity impact statement go to this webpage: click here