Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Behavioral Health

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Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Behavioral Health Care:
What Consumers and Families Should Know
Culture and language are vital factors in how behavioral health care services are delivered and received. Therefore, it
is important that health care organizations and their staff understand and respond with sensitivity to the needs and
preferences of culturally and linguistically diverse consumers.
In December 2000, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) officially published its 14 national standards for culturally and
linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) in health care. The standards are intended to inform, guide, and facilitate
required and recommended practices related to culturally and linguistically appropriate health services. While the 14
standards are primarily directed at health care organizations, individual providers are also encouraged to use the
standards to make their practices more culturally and linguistically accessible.
Before the CLAS standards were developed, there was no clear guidance on how to provide culturally and linguistically
appropriate health care services. The standards are intended to be inclusive of all cultures and not limited to any
particular population group or sets of groups. However, they are especially designed to address the needs of racial,
ethnic, and linguistic population groups that have traditionally experienced unequal access to health services.
Consumers and their families can use the CLAS standards to understand their right to receive from all health care
staff members effective care that respects and is responsive to their cultural health beliefs and practices, as well as
their preferred language. (CLAS Standard 1).
To view the 14 National CLAS standards, visit the Office of Minority Health at http://www.omhrc.gov/assets/pdf/
checked/finalreport.pdf
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Providing an environment in which patients/consumers from diverse cultural backgrounds feel comfortable dis
cussing their cultural health beliefs and practices.
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Striving to overcome cultural, language, and communication barriers.
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Encouraging patients/consumers to express their spiritual beliefs and cultural practices.
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Being familiar with and respectful of various traditional healing systems and beliefs.
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Assessing cultural beliefs of each patient/consumer.
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Provide language assistance services
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Posting signage in the language of commonly encountered groups.
(OMH, 1991).
For more information about Cultural Competency contact Corine Frankland, ValueOptions
®
New Mexico's Director of
Diversity Initiatives (505) 346-9489