The Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) Office of Cultural Competency and Ethnic Services (OCCES) has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its 12 Culture-specific Subcommittees in the category of Civic Education and Public Information.
These community driven Culture-specific Subcommittees function as advisory groups, working to assist DBH in designing programs and services that are community-driven and culturally informed. The committees engage in policy advocacy, develop trainings and conduct outreach activities by recruiting members of the community and engaging them in program planning. Members attend scheduled forums to address the needs of their community and develop strategies to address those needs.
“OCCES, along with our community partners, support the Quality of Life element of the Countywide Vision and will continue to promote and provide culturally competent services that are community centered, culturally informed, recovery-oriented, and wellness driven. We are honored to be nationally recognized by NACo for these efforts,” stated DBH’s Cultural Competency Officer, Imo Momoh.
Community members are invited to participate in any of the following sub-committees: Asian Pacific Islander, Co-Occurring and Substance Abuse, Disabilities, African American, Latino, LGBTQ, Native American, Spirituality, Transitional Age Youth, Veteran’s, Women’s, and Consumer and Family Members.
For more information on these committees or the OCCES, call (909) 386-8223 (TTY users dial 711.)
Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Award Program is designed to recognize innovative, effective county government programs that enhance services for residents. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received. This year, the County of San Bernardino won 46 Achievement Awards from NACo.
DBH, through the Office of Cultural Competence and Ethnic Services, is supporting the Countywide Vision by capitalizing on the diversity of people to create a broad range of choices in health services for County residents. Information on the Countywide Vision and the Department of Behavioral Health can be found at www.sbcounty.gov.