David Y. Ige | News Release: DOH awarded federal grant to establish national AANHPI Behavioral Health Center of Excellence

HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Division of Well being (DOH) was awarded almost $3.5 million from the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers to ascertain a first-of-its-kind nationwide Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Behavioral Well being Heart of Excellence.

DOH will obtain the almost $3.5 million in federal funds over the subsequent 5 years. The Heart of Excellence will promote culturally and linguistically acceptable behavioral well being data and practices; set up a steering committee with contributors from throughout the nation to determine rising points; and supply coaching, technical help, and session to practitioners, educators and group organizations. Key companions embody Papa Ola Lokahi and San Jose State College.

“Actually responsive behavioral well being companies should deal with stigma and supply assets that deal with cultural trauma and culturally-informed remedy,” stated Marian Tsuji, Deputy Director of Behavioral Well being. “We’re honored to steer this nationwide Heart of Excellence to deliver collectively cultural practitioners, behavioral well being consultants, and different stakeholders to make sure that we’re assembly systemic behavioral well being wants of our various communities.”

“Immediately’s announcement is a key step within the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to eradicate well being disparities affecting AA and NHPI communities,” stated Krystal Ka‘ai, Govt Director of the White Home Initiative on Asian Individuals, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. “This new heart will present entry to culturally and linguistically acceptable behavioral well being companies which are important as our communities proceed to grapple with the consequences of the pandemic and anti-Asian violence.”

AANHPIs are the fastest-growing ethnic minority group within the nation, but are the least seemingly group to obtain take care of psychological sickness. Greater than 76% of AANHPI people who’ve been identified with a psychological sickness and 93% of these with substance use dysfunction don’t obtain remedy.

The AANHPI Heart of Excellence will develop infographics and different supplies that deal with behavioral well being, together with people who present knowledge disaggregated by race and ethnicity; present steering on greatest practices for bettering engagement and retention of AANHPI behavioral well being professionals; and function an accessible and trusted clearinghouse for evidence-based behavioral well being assets and merchandise.

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