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The County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is committed to ensuring that behavioral health services are culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate, and equitable. Cultural and linguistic competence is fundamental to improving access to care, supporting meaningful engagement, and responding to the diverse needs of the individuals, families, and communities we serve. This commitment extends across our provider network and remains an important part of ongoing service delivery, quality improvement, and efforts to reduce disparities.
National CLAS Standards and Cultural Competence Plans
Programs within the BHS provider network are required to adhere to the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS), which provide a framework for delivering services responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of diverse communities. To support implementation, BHS recommends utilizing the National CLAS Standards Implementation Checklist, found at An Implementation Checklist for the National CLAS Standards (hhs.gov), which includes examples of organizational practices and an action-planning worksheet to help programs identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. Additional guidance is available in the BHS Cultural Competence Handbook.
Cultural Competence (CC) Plans included in CLAS Standards remain required for all legal entities within the BHS provider network. New contractors must submit a CC Plan as specified in their Statement of Work, unless their legal entity has already submitted one. As new programs are added, legal entities are expected to address their unique needs within the CC Plan. Organizations developing or updating their plans may reference the CC Plan Component Guidelines in Section E of the Cultural Competence Handbook, available through Section 4.1 of the BHS Technical Resource Library.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 Assessment Updates
Beginning in FY 2026-27, programs are no longer required to complete the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Policy Assessment (CLCPA) and Promoting Cultural Diversity Self-Assessment (PCDSA). Programs may continue using these assessments or select other appropriate tools to evaluate cultural and linguistic competence, including those identified in the Cultural Competence Handbook or other tools determined by the program or legal entity to meet comparable criteria. While these specific assessment requirements have changed, BHS' commitment to cultural and linguistic competence remains unchanged. Programs are encouraged to use assessment findings, community feedback, and other available information to identify opportunities to strengthen services and address the needs of the populations they serve.
Continuing Our Commitment Through Community Engagement
As BHS implements the 2026–2029 Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Integrated Plan, cultural and linguistic responsiveness, health equity, and disparity reduction will continue to inform departmentwide planning and improvement efforts. Through ongoing Community Planning Process (CPP) activities and other engagement efforts, including the department's four new Optimal Care Collaboratives (OCCs), BHS will continue creating opportunities for diverse community perspectives to inform discussions about access to care, cultural and linguistic barriers, coordination, and opportunities for system improvement. These efforts complement the ongoing responsibility of BHS and its provider network to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
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