California Department of Mental Health

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Office of Multicultural Services - Language Access

Interpretation | Translation
MHSA Documents en Español | MHSA Documents VIỆT | Cultural Competence Documents

The Office of Multicultural Services is working toward improving language access for California’s mental health consumers. Language access is a term used to describe an agency’s or organization’s efforts to make its programs and services accessible to Limited English proficient (LEP) persons or non-English speakers. Language barriers can inhibit LEP persons or non-English speakers’ access to necessary services. Recognizing the need to improve communication and interaction with LEP persons is critical for advancing equal access to mental health services.
For more information, please refer to the Language Access Fact Sheet

 

Interpretation

Interpretation is the conversion of a message (usually oral) from one language (the source language) into oral form in another language (the target language).


Mental Health Interpreter Training Program

DMH supported the development of a Mental Health Interpreter training program, in partnership with National Latino Behavioral Health Association, CIMH, and community mental health agencies. The DMH helped fund the pilot and evaluation of this training curriculum that is now available to county mental health programs. For purchase information, visit the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA) website. 

Translation

Translation is the conversion of a message (usually written) from one language (the source language) into written form in another language (the target language).


The Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (1973) requires California state agencies to provide translated materials and serve monolingual customers in languages other than English. State and local agencies must translate any materials, explaining services available to the public, into non-English languages spoken by persons comprising 5 percent or more of the people served by any local office or facility of the State.

The following translated documents are currently available:


Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)

MHSA Documents en Español

MHSA Documents in VIỆT

Cultural Competence Resources

UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities “Building Partnerships: Key Considerations When Engaging Underserved Communities Under the MHSA”

  • DESARROLLANDO ASOCIACIONES: CONSIDERACIONES CLAVE AL INVOLUCRAR A COMUNIDADES SIN SUFICIENTE SERVICIOS BAJO EL MHSA
  • XÂY DỰNG  CÁC ĐỐI TÁC: NHỮNG ĐIỂM ĐÁNG CHÚ Ý NHẤT KHI TIẾP CẬN VỚI CÁC CỘNG ĐỒNG CƯ DÂN CÓ ĐIỀU KIỆN SINH HOẠT DƯỚI MỨC BÌNH THƯỜNG THEO ĐẠO LUẬT CHĂM SÓC VỀ SỨC KHỎE TINH THẦN

UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities “Engaging the Underserved: Personal Accounts of Communities on Mental Health Needs for Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies”

  • VOLUCRANDO A LOS QUE NO TIENEN SUFICIENTES SERVICIOS: VERSIONES PERSONALES DE LAS COMUNIDADES SOBRE NECESIDADES DE SALUD MENTAL PARA ESTRATEGIAS DE PREVENCIÓN  E INTERVENCIÓN TEMPRANA
  • KẾT NỐI ĐỐI TƯỢNG DƯỚI CHUẨN: CÂU CHUYỆN CÁ NHÂN CỦA CỘNG ĐỒNG VỀ CHĂM SÓC SỨC KHOẺ TÂM THẦN  & CHIẾN LƯỢC NGĂN NGỪA VÀ CAN THIỆP SỚM

President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Report

  • La Comisión Presidencia Nueva Libertad para la Salud Mental
  • Ủy ban Tự Mời vế Sức khỏe Tân của Tổng thống