Session Description: The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) guide providers in tailoring their services so they are responsive to the health beliefs, practices and needs of diverse individuals and communities. Using the CLAS framework can improve health literacy, reduce health disparities, advance health equity and improve the overall wellbeing of your patients and clients. This session will also provide resources and strategies to support the integration of culturally and linguistically appropriate practices and policies within substance use, prevention, treatment and recovery settings.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the importance of implementing the CLAS standards
• Explain the social, health, business and legal benefits of implementing the CLAS Standards within Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery services
• Identify and describe the three themes of the CLAS standards

Amelia Roeschlein, DSW, MA, LMFT
She/Her/Hers
Consultant, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Amelia (Ami) Roeschlein, DSW, MA, LMFT, is a licensed clinician who has led mental health, substance use and integrated care programs and trained mental health providers in academic medicine since the late 90’s. She serves as a National Council for Mental Wellbeing consultant with a portfolio in trauma-informed, resilience-oriented and equity-focused systems (TIROES) and integrated health. A regular conference speaker, Dr. Roeschlein has expertise and published research in topics including harm reduction in re-entry and incarcerated populations, personality disorders and mentalization, connection and belonging, co-occurring disorders, compassion cultivation, clinical supervision, adaptive leadership and interpersonal violence, including healing families and survivors of domestic violence. Dr. Roeschlein earned her doctorate in social work from the University of Southern California with a focus on innovation and creating large-scale social change through transdisciplinary training of mental health practitioners. She also completed a fellowship in leadership, equity advancement and diversity.

Presentation Material

Introduction to the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS)