Center For Family Services, in partnership with the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addictions, is proud to offer cultural competence technical assistance and professional development training to behavioral healthcare professionals in contracted agencies of the Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services. The Multicultural Service Advisory Board is led by Center For Family Services, in partnership with the Division of Addictions, and provides cultural competency support and technical assistance to contracted agencies.
The Multicultural Service Advisory Committee is made up of consumers, providers, training agencies and stakeholders who are committed to cultural and linguistic competency in the mental health and addictions system of care. The committee provides support to the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and its provider agencies to ensure they vigorously embed cultural competency throughout their organizational environments.
The committee was initially formed by the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addictions in 1981 to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the development and delivery of culturally competent mental health services, and to advocate for policies, programs and legislation that impact the mental health delivery system. In 2015, the committee was restructured to a working group format with the goal to produce more direct technical assistance to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and its agencies.
The mission of the Multicultural Service Advisory Committee is to promote, develop and implement culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health treatment and services for New Jersey’s diverse cultural groups. The Multicultural Service Advisory Committed will advance health equity by ensuring that agencies are following SAMSHA and National CLAS standards, thereby ensuring that services are inclusive, culturally competent and accessible.
The committee provides a structure through which New Jersey's multicultural population can communicate their needs within the division. The committee also ensures that cultural competency is a critical aspect in the planning and implementation of an effective system of care. Committee members are trailblazers championing cultural humility, modeling behavior, and advocating for equity-minded practices for inclusion.
Members of the Multicultural Service Advisory Committee utilize existing tools from SAMHSA, NASMHPD and CLAS to integrate cultural and linguistic competence and expectations into all services and programs, including Community Wellness and Recovery Centers, contracted with the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Download the 2021-2022 Strategic Plan
Join the Committee
Represent your agency by participating as a member of the Multicultural Service Advisory Committee. As a committee member, you will have the opportunity to be part of a working committee sharing cultural competency programs, policies and outcomes for equity-minded knowledge on the cultural continuum.
Download a membership application
For more information, contact:
Dr. June DePonte Sernak, Committee Chair
Statewide Diversity Consultant
[email protected]
609-569-0239 x62126
609-707-4070 (cell)
Resources & Trends
Cultural Observances and Causes Calendar
Cultural Competency Toolkit - Multicultural Service Advisory Committee
Improving Cultural Competency - SAMSHA
O.C. Tanner 2022 Global Culture Report
Cultural Competence In Health And Human Services
Treatment Improvement Protocol 59: Improving Cultural Competence
Training Center
Center For Family Services, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health and Addictions, is proud to offer professional development trainings to behavioral healthcare professionals in New Jersey. The Cultural Competence Training Center offers a variety of training opportunities, as well as technical assistance, for contracted agencies of the Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services.
Professional Development
Professional development opportunities are designed to educate and train practitioners, to strengthen knowledge and skills in cultural competence, and to ensure a high overall quality of care. Trainings address how to best serve mental health clients within therapeutic modalities. Professional development, coaching and technical assistance are available to help providers better address culturally and ethnically diverse communities. All trainings are free of charge for behavioral healthcare professionals in agencies contracted by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Ongoing training opportunities are provided throughout the year. Trainings are approved for continuing education credits.
Technical Assistance
Free, on-site customized technical assistance with developing and/or updating a cultural competence plan. We provide an Introducation to Cultural Competence training for your agency and we are available to attend agency diversity meetings.