Cross Cultural Services

Access Challenges for Diverse Populations

Community health centers (CHCs) are often at the forefront, delivering health care services to many of Massachusetts’ diverse populations. Accurate communication is a vital to the delivery of effective health care. This is especially important for individuals whose first language is not English. Without linguistically and culturally competent care, individuals with limited-English proficiency are at risk, often unable to communicate basic health care needs.

Cross Cultural Services for CHCs

To help ensure that patients and providers are able to communicate effectively during the medical encounter Office of Community Programs (OCP) offers training and educational opportunities for clinical and office staff. Services include:

• Cultural awareness training for office and professional staff
• Introductory and advanced Medical Interpreter Training 
• Train the Trainer Pilot Program & Training Manual
• Translation Services and Medial Interpreter Dispatch Services in Collaboration with Central Massachusetts Area Health Education Center

For more information about these and other services offered by Cross Cultural Initiatives, please contact Lisa Morris, Director of Cross Cultural Initiatives for OCP.