Office of Ethnic Services

The Office of Ethnic Services (OES) advances health equity by training internal and external stakeholders, staffing our affinity advisory groups, and creating the cultural competency plan.

Office of Ethnic Services

The Office of Ethnic Services (OES) advances health equity by supporting the five systems of care and plan administration teams in racially, linguistically, and ethnically appropriate access to Alameda County Health, Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) services.

OES has an ongoing commitment to the practice of cultural humility, which embodies self-reflection and self-examination, as well as an understanding of the power dynamics between the provider and consumer, and ACBHD and the community.

Program Details

History of Cultural Competency/Ethnic Services Manager (CC/ESM):

  • In 1988, a group of people recognized the mental health disparities that were prevalent among specific groups and set out to make a change by leading with a cultural and equity lens. These pioneers, whose shoulders today’s ESM stands on, built trainings and programs with their respective counties to address and respond to cultural issues and inequities. At that time, they did not have a cultural competency plan. And they would become known as the Minority Services Coordinators.
  • In 1989, at the same time the Minority Services Coordinators were drafting the foundations of what would later become components of today’s cultural competency plan, another cultural pioneer named Terry Cross began the work of integrating the concept of cultural competency in the mental health field.
  • In the 1990s, the title of the position changed from Minority Services Coordinators to Ethnic Services Managers (ESMs).
  • In 2000, years later, these pioneers would begin the development and provide the structure of a Cultural Competency Plan.
  • In 2010, the Cultural Competency Plan was initiated.
  • In 2015, in order to more accurately reflect the breadth of responsibility, the title of Ethnic Services Manager was retitled as Cultural Competence/Ethnic Services Manager (CC/ESM).
  • In 2016, the Ethnic Services Managers updated the cultural competency framework to incorporate changes in approaches to the delivery of culturally competent services informed by the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS).

Description of Services

Office of Ethnic Services (OES) advances health equity by creating racially, linguistically, and ethnically equitable access to Alameda County Health, Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) services.

OES is in charge of the facilitation of:

  • Cultural projects
  • CRC Sub-Committees: Governance, Communications, Compliance
  • Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Training
  • Building and maintaining healthy, positive relationships with community partners
  • Collaborating with staff, managers, operational leads, and providers across the mental health and substance use systems of care

Office of Ethnic Services Resources