Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 2 - Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers
Chapter 14 - Rights of People Receiving Services
Rule 24-2-14.4 - Limited English Proficiency Services and Cultural Competency

A. Language assistance services, including bilingual employees and interpreter services, must be offered at no cost to people with limited English proficiency. These services must be offered at all points of contact with the person while he/she is receiving services. A detailed description of when and how these services will be provided must be clearly explained in the agency provider's policies and procedures.

B. All agency providers must develop and implement policies and procedures that address Culturally and Linguistically Appropriately Services (CLAS) federal guidelines developed by the Office of Minority Health (OMH), which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services in order to improve access to care for limited English proficient people through the elimination of language and cultural barriers. All policies and procedures must include:

C. Cultural competence describes the ability of an agency provider to provide services to people with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring service delivery to meet the person's social, cultural and linguistic needs. Policies and procedures manuals must reflect the agency provider's efforts to integrate values, attitudes and beliefs of the people served into the services provided.

D. Services and plan development must reflect cultural considerations of the person and be conducted by providing information in a plain language and in a manner that is accessible to people who have limited English proficiency.