Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)

Overview

The National Department of Health and Human Services describes CLAS as “a way to improve the quality of services provided to all individuals, which will ultimately help reduce health disparities and achieve health equity. CLAS is about respect and responsiveness: Respect the whole individual and Respond to the individual’s health needs and preferences.”

The National CLAS Standards Implementation Framework: the framework highlights the following six areas for action: (1) Foster cultural competence; (2) Reflect and respect diversity; (3) Ensure language access; (4) Build Community partnerships; (5) Collect diversity data; and (6) Benchmark, plan, and evaluate.

In 2021 Minnesota lawmakers dedicated funds to “disability services, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment providers” to apply CLAS standards in their care. The Department of Human Services is now working with Minnesotans on the distribution of those funds.

If you have questions about CLAS in Minnesota, send an email to clas_standards_steering_committee.dhs@state.mn.us

Legislation

Minnesota Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards Statewide Plan

The legislature directed DHS to develop a statewide implementation and transition plan for culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) national standards, including technical assistance for providers to transition to CLAS standards and to improve disparate treatment outcomes. DHS is required to consult with substance use disorder treatment providers, lead agencies, individuals who receive substance use disorder treatment services, and individuals who are Black, indigenous, people of color, and linguistically diverse in the development of the implementation and transition plans. This section is effective July 1, 2021. (MN Laws 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 7, Article 11, Section 40)

Minnesota Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Implementation Grants

The legislature appropriated $2,275,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $2,206,000 in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund for grants to disability services, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment providers to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate services standards, according to the implementation and transition plan developed by the commissioner. This section is effective July 1, 2021. (MN Laws 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 7, Article 16, Section 2, subdivision 31, paragraph a) 

If you have questions about CLAS in Minnesota, send an email to clas_standards_steering_committee.dhs@state.mn.us

Meetings

Members of the public are encouraged to attend either of the two virtual community engagement meetings on June 22 or 23. The content of these two meetings will be the same. We are holding two webinars to allow for greater engagement with the community.

Community engagement meeting 1: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 10:00 am CST

• Event registration link
  
• Event password: Rfuw3jnqj47
• Call-in information: +1-415-655-0003
• Access code: 2484 846 6333

Community engagement meeting 2: Thursday, June 23, 2022 6:00 pm CST

• Event registration link
  
• Event password: 4ZdHJ4TmPh3
• Call-in information: +1-415-655-0003
• Access code: 2492 037 5737

At these meetings we will not only share details about CLAS standards, but we will also seek community responses to questions and issues such as these:

• What do cultural responsive services/CLAS Standards mean and look like to you?
• How can DHS support providers (technical assistance) who are providing culturally responsive services?
• Training and learning opportunities for providers to build community relationships/engagement.
• What is meaningful to the community that would provide support during this process?
• How are culturally responsive services addressing disparities and gaps within services?
• How can DHS provide support for this new CLAS Standard legislative language?
• What are the improvement areas within the process, system, and services?

Note: Dates for the request for proposals (i.e., grant applications) will be posted on this site as soon as they are announced

Resources

• National Department of Health and Human Services CLAS website
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality CLAS website
• Providing CLAS Document
• CLAS, Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility

Grants and Applications

• The Minnesota Department of Human Services, through its Behavioral Health, Housing and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division, is seeking proposals from responders to provide ongoing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards for their organization. Technical Assistance CLAS RFP will be due December 5th at 4 p.m. 
• The Minnesota Department of Human Services, through its through its Behavioral Health, Housing, and Deaf of Hard and Hearing Services Division, is seeking to support adoption of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards for their organization. Grant Administration CLAS RFP  will be due December 6th at 4 p.m.