244110 National CLAS Standards Enhancement Initiative: An HHS Office of Minority Health Initiative to Advance Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Services

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 4:45 PM

Guadalupe Pacheco, MSW , Office of the Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, Rockville, MD
C. Godfrey Jacobs , SRA International, Inc., Health Disparities Practice, Rockville, MD
     
In 2001, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health (OMH) published the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS Standards), which provided the framework for all health care organizations to best serve the nation's increasingly diverse communities. In the decade since, the field of cultural and linguistic competency has seen tremendous growth. It has evolved from a fledgling concept to a recognized intervention in the quest for health equity. With this in mind, the Office of Minority Health is revisiting the CLAS Standards in order to reflect the past decade's advancements, expand their scope and improve their clarity to ensure universal understanding and implementation. The Office of Minority Health will publish the enhanced CLAS Standards in Fall 2011.

The enhancement initiative began in Fall 2010 with open call for public comments, three regional public comment meetings, and the convening of a National Project Advisory Committee (NPAC). The input from stakeholders nationwide provided a solid foundation upon which to build the enhanced CLAS Standards. Through this development process, OMH aims to create a landmark document that provides practical guidance on the provision of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate practices. This session will explore the enhancement process and discuss the implications of the new CLAS Standards in the arena of public health. The CLAS Standards will continue into the next decade as the cornerstone for advancing health equity through cultural and linguistic competency.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the rationale for the National CLAS Standards and the Enhancement Initiative. 2. Identify parts of the development process for the enhanced National CLAS Standards.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: In my current capacity as Senior Health Advisor to the Director for Minority Health, I assist in developing policies and initiatives to mitigate health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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