About 65% of NVFS clients speak a language other than English as their primary language at home.

We Speak Your Language

Languages

Services are available in the following languages:

  • English
  • Farsi
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Hebrew
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • French
  • Portuguese
  • Amharic
  • Bangla
  • Mandarin

US Census 2000 figures confirm that ethnic and cultural diversity continues to increase dramatically in this country due to the unprecedented influx of refugees and immigrants to the US since the 1960s. Over half of this "new immigration" comes from developing and war-torn nations in Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

Despite higher rates of exposure to trauma than most other Americans (due to, for example, experiences of war trauma, death of or prolonged separation from family members, torture, long stays in refugee camps, etc.), immigrant families are far less likely to access mental health and other basic services. Cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic barriers are potent deterrents to accessing a mental health care system staffed by providers who do not themselves mirror this diversity. Moreover, lack of cultural competence among providers to serve a population more diverse and culturally complex than ever before in US history threatens to increase an already troublesome disparity in access to care.

Bridging those barriers for newcomers is essential to accessing critical resources and services. Our culturally diverse, highly trained, and dedicated mental health professionals are uniquely qualified to work with immigrants and refugees from all over the world. Many staff members at NVFS are themselves immigrants, refugees and/or members of cultural minorities. More than 12 languages are spoken by this staff, which include psychiatrists, play therapists, art therapists, counselors, social workers and case managers. Through our Multicultural Human Services program, NVFS is uniquely qualified to lead the way in providing services to a population where 120 different languages are spoken. This leadership has been increasingly recognized regionally, nationally and internationally.

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