New Free E-Learning Program on Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals
The U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (HHS OMH) announced a new, free and accredited e-learning program: Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals. The program, available via OMH’s Think Cultural Health website, is designed to develop behavioral health providers’ knowledge and skills related to culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS).
This online program is a practical tool for behavioral health professionals who want to gain skills and knowledge about culture and diversity, which could be applied daily to better serve your clients. The tool is particularly timely for professionals working to address the opioid epidemic among racial and ethnic populations, which have low treatment rates and some of the highest rates of opioid misuse and overdose.
OMH encourages all certified counselors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers to take this program and earn up to five continuing education credits at no cost.
The program’s 4 courses cover:
- Connections between culture and behavioral health
- The impact of cultural identity on interactions with clients
- Ways to engage, assess and treat clients from diverse backgrounds
The estimated time to complete all 4 Courses is 5 hours. Courses 1 and 2 take approximately 1 hour each. Courses 3 and 4 take approximately 1.5 hours each.
All aspects of a provider’s and a client’s cultural identity influence the therapeutic process
