Office of Health Disparities Resources
The Office of Health Disparities offers trainings, presentations, technical assistance, and facilitated discussions to help organizations strengthen culturally responsive services, improve community engagement, address barriers to care, and reduce health disparities across Nebraska.
Organizations may request an OHD presentation, training, facilitated discussion, or consultation through the OHD Resource Request Form.
Availability may vary based on the topic, intended audience, location, and level of support requested.
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services, commonly known as CLAS, help organizations provide services that are respectful of and responsive to the cultural beliefs, preferred languages, health literacy needs, and communication needs of the people they serve.
OHD provides information and training related to the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services.
CLAS Training and Materials
- National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Video
- Enhanced CLAS Standards Post-Test and Evaluation Survey
- CLAS Two-Page Summary
- CLAS Fact Sheet
- Leveraging CLAS Webinar
- National Enhanced CLAS Standards Report
The Leveraging CLAS Webinar provides an introduction to the National CLAS Standards and practical guidance organizations can use to strengthen culturally and linguistically appropriate policies, programs, and services.
Additional CLAS Information
- Think Cultural Health
- Making CLAS Happen
- National CLAS Standards Implementation Information
Organizations interested in introductory or advanced CLAS training may submit a request through the OHD Resource Request Form.
Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities
OHD presentations and learning opportunities may address:
- Understanding health disparities
- Social determinants of health
- Historical and systemic factors that influence health outcomes
- Barriers to health care and supportive services
- Rural and geographic disparities
- Culturally responsive and community-informed public health practices
- Strengths-based approaches to working with communities
- Strategies for improving health outcomes among populations experiencing disparities
Presentations may be adapted for public health professionals, health care organizations, schools, state agencies, community organizations, and other partners.
Community Engagement and Facilitation
OHD provides support to help organizations meaningfully engage communities in identifying priorities, understanding challenges, and developing solutions.
Available topics may include:
- Community listening sessions and facilitated discussions
- Strengths-based community engagement
- Building trust with historically underserved communities
- Incorporating community experience into planning and decision-making
- Technology of Participation facilitation methods
- ORID-focused conversations and group reflection
- Gathering of Native Americans-informed engagement approaches
- Developing shared priorities and action steps
OHD may also provide consultation on meeting design, stakeholder engagement, collaborative planning, and facilitated group processes.
Access to Care
OHD offers presentations and technical assistance related to identifying and addressing barriers that prevent individuals and communities from accessing health care and supportive services.
Topics may include:
- Health care navigation and referral pathways
- Transportation barriers
- Insurance and enrollment barriers
- Language access and health literacy
- Behavioral health access
- Preventive health services
- Community health workers and health navigators
- Coordination among health care, public health, and community organizations
- Using local data and community input to identify gaps in services
Planning, Measurement, and Evaluation
OHD provides technical assistance to help funded partners, local health departments, Tribal Nations, and community organizations develop clear and measurable plans.
Support may include:
- Developing SMART goals
- Connecting activities to intended outcomes
- Identifying meaningful outputs and performance measures
- Aligning work plans and budgets
- Developing logic models
- Applying Results-Based Accountability concepts
- Selecting community-informed indicators
- Strengthening data collection and reporting
- Using findings to improve programs and services
Tribal and Native Health
OHD provides presentations intended to strengthen understanding of Tribal sovereignty, Tribal consultation, Native health, and culturally grounded approaches to public health.
Topics may include:
- Introduction to Tribal sovereignty
- Working respectfully with Tribal Nations
- Tribal consultation principles and practices
- Native health disparities and community strengths
- Historical and contemporary influences on Native health
- Cultural connectedness as a protective factor
- Native youth health, leadership, and well-being
- Gathering of Native Americans principles
Training content may be adapted based on the intended audience. OHD training and presentations are not a replacement for direct consultation with individual Tribal Nations.
Hispanic and Latino Health
OHD offers presentations related to the health and well-being of Hispanic and Latino communities in Nebraska.
Topics may include:
- Barriers to health care and supportive services
- Language access and culturally responsive communication
- Community trust and engagement
- Multidirectional communication between communities and institutions
- Community health workers and health navigation
- Using local data and community experience to establish priorities
- Advocacy and systems-level change
Request a Training or Presentation
To request a presentation, training, facilitated session, or consultation, complete the OHD Resource Request Form.
Please include:
- The organization making the request
- The requested topic
- The intended audience
- The anticipated number of participants
- Preferred dates or timeframe
- Whether the request is virtual or in person
- The intended purpose or desired outcome
Submitting a request does not guarantee availability. OHD staff will follow up to discuss the request and next steps.