These resources present specific strategies for organizations and providers for implementing culturally and linguistically competent programs, including self-assessments and toolkits with actionable steps.

AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange: Cultural Competence

This web page provides an assortment of toolkits and resource guides focused on effective communication and improved quality of care for diverse populations.

AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Tools 9 and 10)

This toolkit provides evidence-based guidance to support primary care practices in addressing health literacy. This toolkit assists practices in reducing the complexity of health care, increasing patient understanding of health information, and enhancing support for patients of all literacy levels.

Overcoming Communication Barriers with Your Patients: A Reference Guide for Health Care Providers

This guide offers tips for overcoming communication challenges so providers and patients (and their families) can engage in effective shared decision-making.

Guide to Preventing Readmissions among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries

This guide provides an overview of key issues related to readmissions for racially and ethnically diverse Medicare beneficiaries and examples of strategies and initiatives aimed at reducing readmissions in diverse populations.

The CAHPS Ambulatory Care Improvement Guide

This resource provides strategies for improving patient experience through cultural competence and regularly assessing culturally competent services.

Guide to Developing a Language Access Plan

This guide contains information on developing and assessing language access plans, in order to ensure meaningful access for those with limited English proficiency. Focuses include needs assessment, language services, notices, training, and evaluation. 

Resources to Implement Cross-Cultural Clinical Practice Guidelines for Medicaid Practitioners: Physician Toolkit and Curriculum

This toolkit introduces the fundamentals of cross-cultural practice and offers steps and processes essential to delivering high-quality care to culturally diverse populations.

Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities: A Quality Improvement Initiative in Medicaid Managed Care

This toolkit provides strategies for providers to identify members of racial and ethnic subgroups and explore ways to improve health care quality for racially and ethnically diverse populations.

Cultural Competence Assessments and Checklists

This web page provides a variety of self-assessments for organizations to help them develop strategic plans with clearly defined short and long terms goals around cultural competence.

Becoming a Culturally Competent Health Care Organization

This guide aims to help organizations, including hospitals and other health care organizations, reduce health care disparities and promote diversity in health care governance and leadership.