To convene Latino specific service organizations, programs and providers to inform systems, organizations, and individuals about Latino Emotional and Mental Health best practice and working collaboratively toward a strategic plan to improve the Emotional Health of Latinx communities in Oregon.

We will succeed when there is an adequately resourced and integrated system that supports the mental and emotional health of Latinx communities. This envisioned system includes evidence-based practices, practice-based evidence, and indigenous wisdom. We will measure success by increased access to care, culture, and linguistically driven practices, a highly trained and growing workforce, measurable increases in positive mental health outcomes.

The data is clear that Latinx community members are less likely to seek mental health services compared to other groups. Lack of access to care, fear and stigma, too few multilingual, bicultural mental health providers, and a lack of culturally specific and responsive services are among the most significant obstacles reported. In Oregon, there is an acute need for culturally specific and responsive mental health and community support systems to address the emotional and mental health needs of Latinx communities.

The role of the Latino Emotional Health Collaborative (LEHC) Steering Committee is to help catalyze the overall vision and create a roadmap to advance the LEHC Strategic Plan priorities.

This leadership group will work together to develop strategies and support coalition members to create aligned action. The list below has our current steering committee members and the OLHC staff.

Support the expansion of services and service delivery

Build a Latinx mental and emotional health workforce

Improve data collection, reporting and use bilingual/bicultural mental health practitioners and advocates

Inform and define public policy

Sustain the capacity of the collaborator