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Welcome to the New Mexico Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Training

The New Mexico Department of Health, Office of Health Equity is pleased to offer the online courses, CLAS I: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards and CLAS II: Critical Concepts in Cultural Competence. Links to the courses are both below and on the right.

The CLAS I course has been divided into two parts; the first part provides a brief historical and legislative overview of the CLAS standards.  The second part gives participants an up close look at each standard and provides practical implementation strategies. 

The training will prepare health professionals and health care agencies to:

  • Address the cultural and linguistic barriers to health care delivery
  • Increase access to health care for racial, ethnic and other minority populations 
  • Understand health risk factors and successful prevention/intervention strategies
  • Provide implementation strategies to comply with the CLAS Standards


The CLAS II course introduces you in greater depth to the cultural considerations in health care.  After completing this training, you will have increased your skills in and your understanding of the following: 

  • Importance of cultural competence
  • Cultural awareness
  • Core cultural competencies
  • Practicing cultural competence
  • Diversity
  • Awareness of differences
  • Valuing and respecting cultural differences
  • Interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds

Through the Education Center, the Office of Health Equity will provide resources that equip health specialists and health care providers to provide the best care possible to their diverse population of patients and clients.  Resources are updated regularly, please check back often.

For more information, email Rachel Kutcher at rachel.kutcher@state.nm.us or call (505) 827-2572. For technical support with the course please contact Dr. Rose Hessmiller (505 228 8806) or rhessmiller@fergusonlynch.com


Welcome to CLAS I: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards.

This is a two part CLAS Standards course designed to prepare health care professionals and health care agencies to:

  • Address the cultural and linguistic barriers to health care delivery
  • Increase access to health care for ethnic, racial and other minority populations 
  • Understand health risk factors and successful prevention/intervention strategies
  • Provide implementation strategies to comply with the CLAS Standards

Welcome to CLAS II:  Cultural Competence in Health Care.

This part covers the role of culture in our daily lives and in our health, illness, and our perception of both.  After completing this training, you will have increased your skills and understanding of the following:

  • Importance of cultural competence
  • Cultural awareness
  • Diversity
  • Valuing and respecting cultural differences
  • Interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds