Central South Cultural Competency Regional Mtg

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) has a long-standing

commitment to the provision of multicultural and diverse services. This training is part of

our initiative regarding the quality of care to ethnically and culturally diverse consumers in our

behavioral health system. Culturally responsive skills can improve engagement and therapeutic

relationships, as well as, treatment retention and outcomes. Cultural competence and the ability

to address diversity within the populations we serve is an essential ingredient in decreasing

disparities in behavioral health.

Many of you already have detailed service plans for addressing culture and diversity within your

agencies and are now in the implementation phase of your plan. Some agencies have not yet

begun to develop a formal plan for cultural and linguistic competence. No matter where your

agency may be in this process, DMHAS is asking you to take part in a regional cultural

competency informational session that will assist you in satisfying the State’s requirement for

this initiative. We will cover updates and trends as we close out 2022 and the many facets of the cultural continuum.