Describes best practices for culturally competent health services, for policy development and research in the area of multicultural health, and for community capacity building. How to replicate multicultural health best practices and fill gaps in knowledge about these best practices are discussed. The report addresses (1) linguistic access to health services through bilingual or interpreter services; (2) practice standards for interpreters, along with skills assessment, competency testing, certification, and professional development; (3) medical interpreter training as well as provider education on working with these interpreters; (4) language education programs for health staff; (5) written materials in other languages; (6) cultural competency of health professionals, including curricula and training programs; (7) cultural competency of health care organizations; (8) research, development, and evaluation of multicultural health programs; and (9) advocacy for culturally competent health services at the community level. Includes appendixes of patient-inquiry tools, summaries of cross-cultural health programs, and model multicultural health policies.
