The Bilingual/Bicultural Service Demonstration Grant Program is administered by the Office of Minority Health (OMH), located within the Office of Public Health and Science of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OMH was created in December 1985 with a mission to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of policies and programs that address disparities and gaps. Consistent with its mission, the role of OMH is to serve as the focal point within HHS for leadership, policy development and coordination, service demonstrations, information exchange, coalition and partnership building, and related efforts to address the health needs of racial and ethnic minorities.

The purposes of OMH's Bilingual/Bicultural Service Demonstration Grant Program, originated in 1993, are to: 1) improve and expand the capacity for linguistic and cultural competence of health care professionals and para-professionals working with limited-English-proficient (LEP) minority communities; and 2) improve the accessibility and utilization of health care services among the LEP minority populations. The OMH intends to demonstrate the merit of projects partnering community-based, minority-serving organizations and health care facilities in a collaborative effort to address cultural and linguistic barriers to effective health care service delivery, and to increase access to quality and comprehensive health care for targeted LEP minority populations (i.e., American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) living in the United States.

This fact sheet describes the 17 projects funded in fiscal year 2004, for the period September 30, 2004 through September 29, 2007. The projects, located in 12 states, each offer activities unique to the needs of its minority LEP target community. The projects address at least one, but no more than three, of 12 targeted health areas: Cancer; Child and Adult Immunization; Diabetes; Environmental Health; Heart Disease and Stroke; HIV/AIDS and STDs; Maternal, Infant and Child Health; Mental Health; Obesity and Overweight; Oral Health; Substance Abuse; and Tobacco Use. Examples of the various activities implemented to address the purposes of the Bilingual/Bicultural Service Demonstration Grant Program include: curriculum development for cultural competency training for health care providers and health care professionals; consumer education and training regarding available health services; development of linguistically and culturally sensitive health education materials; information and referral hotlines; bilingual Public Service Announcements on accessing health services; and use of lay persons as health workers for outreach education and case management services.

For additional information on this grant program, please contact the Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health.

July 2005

List of Bilingual/Bicultural Service Demonstration Grant Program's 2004-2006 Grantees