Transcript CLAS 2005 Patient’s Rights Annual Training Conference

2005 Patient’s Rights Annual
Training Conference
Culturally and Linguistically
Appropriate Services
(CLAS)
November 5, 2005
Rachel G. Guerrero, LCSW
Chief, Office Multicultural Service
Department of Mental Health
Objectives
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Review language Issues
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Describe CLAS Standards
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Questions and Answers
Terms
Interpretation (interpreting)- A conversion of a message
(usually oral) from one language (source language) into oral
form in another language (the target language). Person doing
this is called interpreter (not a translator). (MH Training for
Interpreters 2005)
Translation- The conversion of a message from the source
language into written form in the target language.
Linguistic competence- Providing readily available, culturally
appropriate oral and written language services to Limited
English Proficiency (LEP) members through such means as
bilingual/bicultural staff, trained medical interpreters, and
qualified translators. (CMHS Planning CLAS)
Terms Continued
Cultural and Linguistic Competence: “The ability of
health care providers and health care organizations to
understand and respond effectively to the cultural and
linguistic needs brought by the patient to the health
care encounter.” (DHHS 2000)
Cultural Competence: A set of congruent behaviors,
attitudes, and policies that come together in a system
or agency or among professionals that enables
effective interactions in a cross-cultural framework”
(T.Cross et al 1989)
Statue and Regulation
Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d et. Seq. states:
“No person in the United States shall on the
ground of race, color, or national origin, be
excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance.”
National Standards for Culturally and
Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health
Care (CLAS)
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Issued by U.S. Department of HHS, Office of
Minority Health, March 2001
Proposed as a means to correct inequities in
health services
To make services more response to diverse
clients and families
To contribute to the elimination of racial and
ethnic health disparities
CLAS Standards
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There are 14 CLAS Standards:
Culturally Competent care (1-5)
Language Access Services (4-7)
Organizational Supports for Cultural
Competence (8-14)
CLAS Standards Arranged into:
Federal Mandates,
Guidelines
Recommendations
What is CA Threshold Languages?
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DMH Threshold Languages by County- when
3,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries or 5% of the
Medi-Cal population in a county speak a
language other than English.
48 of CA. 58 counties have one of more
threshold languages. (see chart)
County MH programs are still required to
comply with Title VI of Civil Rights act for
LEP speakers.
Resources/References
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National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically
Appropriate Services in Health Care. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of
Minority Health. March 2001. www.omhrc.gov.clas
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Planning Culturally and Linguistically
Appropriate Services: A Guide for Managed
Care Plans. Download copy at
http://www.cms.gov./healthplans/guality/project03.asp>
References
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J Perkins, H Simon, F. Cheng, K Olson, Y. Vera. Ensuring
Linguistic Access in Health Care Setting: Legal Rights and
Responsibilities. National Health Law program. For Henry J
Kaiser Family Foundation.
January 1998. www.healthlaw.org
HHS, Office of Civil Rights. Limited English Proficiency
(LEP) Department of Justice. Final Guidance to Federal
Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition
Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited
English Proficient Persons. Policy guidance document.
www.hhs.gov/ocr/lep or
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/lep/DOJLEPGuidApr122002.htm
“The significant problems we
face cannot be solved at the
same level of thinking we were
at when we created them.”
Albert Einstein