Culturally, Racially, and Ethnically Diverse Communities

Build capacity, increase the visibility, and highlight the unique role of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) serving under-resourced communities in behavioral health. Learn more about Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

Data Storytelling Series: This four-part webinar series will focus on providing the context and tools necessary for behavioral health organizations to convey their impact and develop critical messaging for storytelling.

• SAMHSA Data and Publicly Available Analysis Tool
• Community Needs Assessments
• Data 101 Workshop
• Budget 101 Workshop
• NNED share page (resources, recordings, etc. of all four sessions)
• General Webinars

The NNED is a network of community-based organizations that provide mental health and substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services as well as non-health related social services for underserved, under-resourced communities. The NNED supports information sharing, training, and technical assistance. NNED Learn is an annual training opportunity for community-based organizations. The goal is to develop skills in evidence-supported and culturally appropriate behavioral health interventions and practice implementation; and to develop organizational capacity-building skills.

Limited language access within behavioral health services creates barriers for people and communities with limited English proficiency. SAMHSA released its Language Access Plan in August 2024. The LAP is in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI.

SAMHSA’s updated LAP encompasses 10 elements, including:

• Written Translations
• Interpretation Services
• Grant Assurance and Compliance
• Staff Training

Read SAMHSA’s Language Access Plan (PDF | 1.8 MB).

Please email LanguageAccess@samhsa.hhs.gov for questions or if you need further information about the LAP.

SAMHSA develops and promotes policy initiatives that strengthen the impact of SAMHSA programs for all, especially, for underserved populations. Data is used to identify gaps that are address and that increases access to behavioral health resources for underserved communities. SAMHSA requires grant recipients, or grantees, to prepare a DIS as part of a data-driven, quality improvement approach to advance equity. The aim is to increase inclusion of underserved populations in SAMHSA-funded grants, achieve behavioral health equity for disparity-vulnerable populations, and help systems better meet the needs of these populations.

• Differential Impact Statement (DIS)

SAMHSA supports the expansion and diversity of the behavioral health workforce and its national capacity to improve outreach, engagement, and quality of care. The goal is to combine new and emerging roles with existing specialty roles to expand the behavioral workforce capacity and improve outreach, engagement, and quality of care for underserved populations.

SAMHSA provides technical assistance on behavioral health equity issues to States, territories, communities, and organizations. The purpose is to engage in collaborations to leverage resources for a shared goal and to provide substantive, timely customer service, presentations, and technical assistance.

• African-American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
  The African-American Behavioral Health CoE develops and disseminates training and technical assistance for healthcare practitioners to improve prevention, treatment and recovery geared to the heterogeneity of this population.
• AANHPI Ohana Center of Excellence
  The Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) ‘Ohana CoE advances the behavioral health equity of AA, NH, and PI communities. The AANHPI-CoE develops and disseminates culturally-informed, evidence-based behavioral health information and provide technical assistance and training on issues related to addressing behavioral health issues in AA, NH and PI communities.
• Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
  The Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health CoE serves as a resource to mental health and substance use providers, primary care providers, community-based and faith-based organizations, research institutions, Hispanic and Latino-Serving Institutions (HSIs) of higher education, peer and recovery support service providers, state, regional, local and federal entities, other systems that address behavioral health issues experienced by Hispanic and Latino individuals (e.g. education, criminal justice, and social services) and families, communities, and those with lived experience.
• LGBTQI+ Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence
  The CoE on LGBTQI Behavioral Health Equity provides behavioral health practitioners with vital information on supporting the population of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, two-spirit. Through training, coaching, and technical assistance the CoE is implementing change strategies within mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems to meet the needs of these populations.