Many school districts and other service providers are seeking effective approaches for delivering culturally competent services, one of the core values of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative. A recent video highlights how Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service (CLAS) Standards are being applied in New Hampshire school districts to create a culture of inclusion.
CLAS Standards were first published by the Office of Minority Health in 2000 and revised in 2010 to offer a framework for individuals and organizations to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate services, primarily in health care settings. The 15 CLAS Standards outline steps for organizations of all sizes to provide effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural needs. This guidance is defined as one Principle Standard (or overarching goal) and three main themes:
- Governance, Leadership, and Workforce
- Communication and Language Assistance
- Engagement, Continuous Improvement, and Accountability
Watch representatives involved with the SS/HS New Hampshire initiative describe how the Standards are applied with the support of district- and state-level leadership. Policies related to the Standards are embedded in what teachers and administrators do every day, which supports sustainability. The Standards also provide New Hampshire the framework to explain the need for continual data collection and evaluation.
CLAS Standards help address the needs of culturally diverse populations, improving access, engagement, and retention, and ultimately enhancing quality. Watch the video.
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