Local, regional and national journeys to cultural and linguistic competence

Based on data from the 2005 American Community Survey, 20% of the population of Rhode Island is a racial or ethnic minority and similarly, 20% of Rhode islanders speak a language other than English.  In an effort to better serve our state’s diverse and Limited English Proficient (LEP) community, The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is providing statewide leadership to implement the National Standards for the Provision of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Healthcare Settings (CLAS Standards).  This is being accomplished through three innovative levels of collaboration: (1) an internal HEALTH workgroup evaluates and applies standards for language access services, (2) an external Healthcare CLAS Steering Committee comprised of senior management from the Hospital Association of RI, health care providers, health plans, and the Region I Office of Civil Rights identify shared opportunities to advance a statewide agenda for the implementation of the CLAS Standards, and (3) an external Language Access Steering Committee (LASC) composed of front line managers of interpreting services at health care organizations and interpreter and cultural competency trainers develop tools and policies to implement the priorities identified by the Healthcare CLAS Steering Committee.

This unique design of three initiatives working in conjunction, with leadership provided by the Department of Health, maximizes the opportunity to apply the assets available from public, private, and federal partners.  Working with so many organizations that express different levels of commitment and engagement in implementing language access services is challenging.  Further, overlaying each organization’s unique system of operating can present obstacles to applying uniform standards and strategies.  Nevertheless, by creating a non-threatening, collaborative environment that encourages the participation of stakeholders the state of Rhode Island expects to advance its efforts to reduce disparities in optimal health outcomes for our LEP communities, improve the quality of healthcare services delivered, identify opportunities for cost savings, and increase patient satisfaction, safety, and compliance.

Participants will receive samples of assessment tools and a flowchart of key steps taken in development this system of collaboration.  By the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: (1) describe a model for developing language access policies and systems in state government that advance efforts to eliminate health disparities, (2) describe strategies for engaging diverse stakeholders in a collaborative process to apply best practices across the healthcare system for the implementation of language access and cultural competency standards, and (3) identify core components needed to facilitate a workgroup that develops tools, provides technical assistance, and builds a support network to implement the CLAS Standards.