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 Culturally
& Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)
The
rapidly changing demographics of the United States have dramatically
affected health care service provision. According to the 2000 US
Census, approximately 18% of the population over age 5 speaks a
language other than English in the home. Here in South Carolina,
the trend is very similar. A potpourri of ethnicities has migrated
to the Palmetto State over the past decade. In fact, a recent study
shows that from 1990-2000 the Latino population in South Carolina
grew by more than 200%. Experts say that percentage will increase
year after year. Because of the continual exponential growth in
immigration, health care organizations cannot afford to ignore the
basic healthcare needs of an increasingly diverse population.
In
collaboration with its expansive network of providers, and in keeping
with its mission of providing quality services to its members, Select
Health of South Carolina is committed to integrating Culturally
and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) into its healthcare
delivery system.
WHAT
IS CLAS?
The
United States Department of Health and Human Services' Office of
Minority Health (OMH) established a set of 14 national CLAS standards
in health care that constitute mandates, guidelines, and recommendations
intended to inform, guide, and facilitate required and recommended
practices related to culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
The
standards are divided into three sections:
- Culturally
Proficient Care
-
Language Access Services
-
Organizational Supports for Cultural Proficiency
These
standards define how health care information is received, how rights
and protections are exercised, what is considered a health problem,
how symptoms and concerns about the problem are expressed, who should
provide treatment for the problem, and what type of treatment should
be delivered.
CLAS
STANDARDS: http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=1&lvlID=3
2005
CLAS Presentation to Select Health Leadership Team
EXECUTIVE
ORDER 13166
 President
Clinton's signing of Executive Order 13166 in August 2000 was a
landmark event in attempting to "improve access to federally
conducted and federally assisted programs and activities for persons,
who, as a result of national origin, are limited in their English
proficiency (LEP)." This order reminded agencies of Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which guarantees that "no
person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color
or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program
or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
LEP
Guidelines: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/13166.htm
For
more information about CLAS, contact Tracy Pou @ (843) 569-4640.
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