Q&A with CSoC's Behavioral Health Equity Workgroup
In 2014, CSoC established the Behavioral Health Equity Workgroup (BHEWG) to identify disparities, improve equity in access, and promote the use of culturally relevant and meaningful behavioral health services that will create an effective and high-quality behavioral health system for all. The BHEWG is comprised of members from both the public and private sectors, who have an interest in improving behavioral health services for all NH residents.
Hear from Biram Saidybah, BHEWG facilitator and Program Specialist IV/Behavioral Health Cultural & Linguistic Competence Coordinator at the Office of Healthy Equity, on BHEWG committee work:
What kind of work does BHEWG do?
We are passionate about providing DEI audits, CLAS Standards Audits and Health Equity audits and continuing to explore how people are accessing behavioral health.
What makes the BHEWG so impactful?
This workgroup brings different stakeholders together to brainstorm ideas that benefit our communities and those who are underserved. Creating a safe environment for people to express their views and concerns is important to our success.
Can you talk about a successful initiative of the BHEWG?
We created a series of "We Are Here" videos that focus on four key areas: community access, behavioral health access, cultural access and linguistic access. Developed in partnership with the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability through grant funding from the Endowment for Health, these videos are a great example of the collaboration that is possible through CSoC.
What if someone is interested in joining the workgroup?
The BHEWG is a safe and open forum for anyone who has ideas and concerns around access to behavioral and mental health. We encourage organizations that focus on minority health to share experiences and ideas from the challenges they are facing with LGBTQIA+, DEI, Educators, Mental and Behavioral Health workers with us.
