Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      
For further information contact
Leopoldo J. Cabassa, Ph.D.
(212) 543-5311
cabassa@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu

Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Announces Launch of New Website
New York, NY – March 6, 2009 – The Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence (CECC) at The New York State Psychiatric Institute is announcing the launch of its new website: www.nyspi.org/culturalcompetence.  The website presents information about the Center’s mission, staff, and current projects and the latest research and advances in culturally and linguistically competent mental health care. Through this website, we wish to inform families and consumers, providers, policy makers, researchers, and the general public about our work and advances in the field.  Our website also provides a forum for feedback from community members and other advisors.

The Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence is working to address the growing need for culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care and service integration throughout New York State. To this end, the CECC is working with mental health providers, consumers and families, community and faith based organizations, policy makers, and mental health service researchers to develop, adapt, and evaluate evidence based approaches aimed at improving the access and quality of mental health services to underserved populations throughout the state of New York.

About New York State Psychiatric Institute: Established in 1895, NYSPI was one of the first institutions in the United States to integrate teaching, research and therapeutic approaches to the care of patients with mental illnesses. From the beginning, NYSPI has been at the forefront of psychiatry, making major contributions to clinical care and understanding of mental illness.