The Hennepin County Office of Multi-Cultural Services (OMS) was created in January 2000 to provide a gateway for coordinated multicultural service delivery across county departments, in collaboration with community partners. Through a multifaceted approach, OMS provides accessible, efficient and cost-effective services and resources to multicultural residents to ensure their health, safety, education and self-reliance.
Background
During the past 20 years, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, refugees, asylees, and secondary migrants have come to Minnesota and the Twin Cities area to escape a homeland of war, persecution or poverty. With them come myriad languages, cultures and skills that create a vibrant multicultural environment. They have a common desire for freedom, opportunity and a chance to build a new future—desires that transcend culture, language or nationality.
Diversity of needs
Many turn to Hennepin County for services to help stabilize their lives and transition to self-sufficiency. Their needs are as varied and unique as the regions of the world they once called home—most often these days, places like Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. Those from less developed countries are immediately confronted with the harsh reality of life in a foreign land that is technologically advanced, highly competitive and extremely complex. They must adapt, learn English and understand values that sometimes conflict with their own.
Project goal
The goal of the OMS is to facilitate delivery of county services to these diverse, Limited English Proficiency populations in an efficient, effective and culturally sensitive manner.
Project objectives:
- Coordinate existing services across departments and partner with the community
- Enhance access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services
- Improve staff’s cultural competency and expand bilingual–bicultural employment opportunities
