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Programs & Supports

Cultural & Linguistic Competency

The goal of Cultural & Linguistic Competence is to deliver high-quality services respectfully and effectively, in a manner that honors the choices of people of all cultures and human identities.

Additionally, it is important to communicate those services in a manner that is easily understood by diverse groups, including but not exclusive to persons who have low literacy skills or are not literate, persons with disabilities, persons who are blind or have low vision, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and persons who have limited and non-English profiency.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and the month offers organizations of all types and sizes a wonderful opportunity to create mental health awareness in diverse communities. The US House of Representatives proclaimed July as this special month in 2008, aiming to improve access to mental health treatment and services through increased public awareness. Since then, many organizations have hosted a variety of events and activities in communities across the country each year. 

Cultural & Linguistic Competency Symposium

The Philadelphia System of Care recently hosted our annual Cultural and Linguistic Competency Virtual Symposium.

A day of networking, lively discussion, sharing, and learning best practices for creating a culture of inclusion in our city as we recognized Minority Mental Health Awareness Month!

In order to ensure that all Philadelphians have access to culturally and linguistically competent systems that care, we all need to work together. Cultural and linguistic competence is a continuously evolving process that is critical in establishing and maintaining an integrated system of care equipped to assess the effectiveness of behavioral health service delivery to Philadelphia’s diverse residents.
The Philadelphia System of Care Cultural and Linguistic Competence Committee developed the symposium to share our insights, challenges, and successes for enhancing CLC programming for youth and families.
The Symposium featured youth, family, and system partners as experts in the field sharing their CLC journey.

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The Symposium took place virtually, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Our event featured a range of speakers, workshops, and activities designed to inspire and empower. Discussing topics such as community building, social justice, and activism, people had the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, share your own experiences, and learn from others.

Attendees learned practical tools for becoming more culturally competent in their work, which will improve their confidence and effectiveness for enhancing cultural and linguistic competency across Philadelphia.

Stay tuned for updates and more information for this years’ Symposium.