Overview
With an emphasis on Cultural and Linguistic Competence (CLC) and responsiveness, system of care communities strive to ensure that children, youth, and families of all population groups receive services that are respectful, understandable, and appropriate. By understanding cultural differences that may exist between communities and tailoring approaches accordingly, system of care communities can be successful in promoting better mental health outcomes for not only the overall local community on a broad scale, but also within each smaller cultural group.
Utilizing the guidance of the National CLAS Standards of the Department of Health and Human Services, Texas System of Care focuses on supporting system of care communities through offering cultural competency trainings, policy and procedure reviews, disparity data analysis, and a variety of other technical assistance services. At the state level, the Texas System of Care team brings a lens of behavioral health equity to initiatives in collaboration with state partners.
How We Support
ABC’s of CLC Webinars
The ABC’s of CLC webinar series defines and explains foundational terminology and concepts of cultural and linguistic responsiveness. The purpose of this series is to provide core knowledge that may be beneficial for a deeper understanding of concepts during other training opportunities around cultural responsiveness. Most ABC’S of CLC webinars also serve as a precursor to a CLC Podcast series, which builds upon the webinar presented and further discusses cultural responsiveness in working with specific populations.
See all ABC’s of CLC webinars.
CLC Podcast
CLC Podcasts are intended to take a deeper dive into clinical considerations of working with various populations. Each new series focuses on a different community that has been previously focused on in an episode of the ABC’s of CLC webinar series. In each podcast series, a clinician with expertise in working with a specific population is interviewed on considerations for providing culturally and linguistically appropriate clinical services to members of the population.
See all CLC Podcast episodes.
In-Person CLC Trainings
Texas System of Care offers a variety of in-person trainings that focus on promoting CLC.
Policy/Procedure Reviews
To assist in addressing institutional issues that may contribute to behavioral health disparities, Texas System of Care conducts reviews of organizational policies and procedures and recommends changes to better promote equitable services. These reviews take place in organizations both at the community level and at the state level.
ACCEPT CLC Workgroup
Launched in 2018, the ACCEPT CLC Workgroup takes on projects that amplify youth voice using the lens of cultural responsiveness in services. The workgroup focuses on cultural differences between youth with lived experience and their families and the mental health workforce.
CLAS Policy Academy
In July of 2019, system of care communities from across Texas attended the CLAS Policy Academy in Austin, Texas. During the academy, participating sites created detailed plans to implement selected CLAS Standards in their local systems of care. Following the academy, the sites are receiving individualized technical assistance for the successful implementation of these plans.
Training and Technical Assistance
From reviewing outreach materials to developing organizational policies with a lens for health equity, Texas System of Care communities and state partners receive tailored technical assistance to ensure cultural and linguistic responsiveness.