Latinos represent our nation's largest and fastest growing ethnic group, yet there remains a striking lack of knowledge regarding the unique mental health needs facing the Latino population--and a troubling shortage of culturally competent mental health professionals prepared to meet those needs.
The Chicago School's Center for Latino Mental Health (CLMH) works to bolster understanding of and access to culturally competent mental health services through scholarly research, community service, and education. The Latino Mental Health Providers Network, an initiative launched in 2009 by CLMH to increase the cultural competency of and build referral networks among Latino mental health providers in Chicago, will serve as a model for a national effort to increase mental health services to Latinos.