CLAS Standards

The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS Standards) are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. Developed by the HHS Office of Minority Health, the National CLAS Standards is a 15-step framework organizations can use to address health inequities and racial/ethnic disparities within their organizations and communities. For more information about the National CLAS Standards, visit the following resources:

• HHS.gov Think Cultural Health - National CLAS Standards https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/clas

• A Practical Guide to Implementing the National CLAS Standards https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/Downloads/CLAS-Toolkit-12-7-16.pdf

• National CLAS Standards - Institute for Diversity http://www.diversityconnection.org/diversityconnection/membership/Resource%20Center%20Docs/NationalCLASStandardsFactSheet.pdf

• SAMHSA’s Improving Cultural Competence Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 59 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK248428/

• SAMHSA’s Multi-Language Initiative (MLI) for quick access to translated publications https://www.samhsa.gov/kap/mli

For further assistance, contact Viannella Halsall at halsallv@umkc.edu