March 24, 2000
One hundred concerned Hispanic community leaders and key partners recently convene a "Congress" to craft an agenda for action and an implementation plan to improve mental health services for the Hispanic community.
The Congress, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is part of the Hispanic Agenda for Action announced by Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Donna Shalala.
SAMHSA Administrator, Dr. Nelba Chavez said, "The recent Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health highlighted that, for the general population, mental health problems can be correctly diagnosed and effective treatments and services are available. However, studies make it clear that mental health programs and providers are not always successful in reaching Hispanics in need of mental health care. We also need to ensure that state-of-the-art treatments are effective for Hispanics."
In addition," Dr. Chavez continued, "the Congress is an important step forward in HHS efforts to bring an end to racial and ethnic disparities in America's health by focusing on an area of greatest need mental health."
Dr. David Satcher, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General, will address the participants on the precedent-setting Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health. The Report serves as a blueprint for future action in research, services, and public awareness. Additional volumes on specific topic areas will provide greater definition and depth on specific topic areas. The first will be the implications of culture and race on the availability, affordability, and quality of mental health services.
On the first day of the Congress, Hispanic leaders will craft an agenda for action. Leaders assembled represent a regionally diverse mix of consumers of mental health services and family members, providers of services, policy makers, national and local advocacy organizations, academia and researchers. They will identify key policy and practice recommendations in the areas of research, prevention, early intervention, standards of health care, insurance coverage, consumer and family involvement, human resources, cultural competence, and community education.
On the second day, key partners will join the Hispanic leadership to delineate specific action steps needed to accomplish the policy and practice priorities outlined in the first day. Participants will identify what can be done —and by whom— at the Federal, State and local levels to ensure that mental health research, service delivery, awareness and education, and professional training respond to the needs of the growing, diverse Hispanic community.
Proceedings from the Congress will be released this summer.
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