Learn how to better respect and respond to your client’s unique needs in this online training of Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals, being offered at no cost by the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services.

Cultural and linguistic competency is recognized as an important strategy for improving the quality of care provided to clients from diverse backgrounds. The goal of this e-learning program is to help behavioral health professionals increase their cultural and linguistic competency.

In Course 1: An introduction to cultural and linguistic competency, you’ll learn what culture has to do with behavioral health care.

In Course 2: Know thyself – Increasing self-awareness, you’ll learn how to get to know your cultural identity and how it affects your work with clients.

In Course 3: Knowing others – Increasing awareness of your client’s cultural identity, you’ll learn how to get to know your client’s cultural identity.

In Course 4: Culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions and services, you’ll learn how to build stronger therapeutic relationships with clients from diverse backgrounds.

The estimated time to complete all 4 Courses is 5 hours. Courses 1 and 2 take approximately 1 hour each. Courses 3 and 4 take approximately 1.5 hours each.

This program is accredited for 5 contract hours for licensed alcohol and drug counselors, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists; and for 4 contact hours for social workers. Other professionals may earn a Statement of Participation.

If you’d like to look at local training opportunities being offered by AdCare Educational Institute of Maine, go to adcareme.org.