Spanish-language services expand for people and families experiencing substance use and mental health challenges

Center City, Minn. (March 2, 2022) – Empathy and connection are at the heart of addiction treatment and recovery, but for too many, language is a barrier to receiving effective care—an imperative which pushed the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to expand its Minnesota mental health and substance use disorder treatment services to people whose sole or primary language is Spanish.

As the addiction crisis slogs on, the need exists: Despite the fact that the United States has the second largest population of Spanish speakers in the world—in Minnesota alone, nearly 200,000 people speak Spanish at home1—Spanish language, Twelve Step-oriented outpatient treatment programs are almost nonexistent.

With language and culture inextricably intertwined, Hazelden Betty Ford's Spanish services will differ from the English versions in both language and content, delving into topics such as stigma, family roles, immigration, acculturation and generational trauma through a culturally responsive lens to best meet the needs of Latinx and Hispanic patients.

"La familia lo es todo para nosotros: Family is everything for us in the Latinx community," said Outpatient Treatment Program Manager Manuel Garcia, who helped create the culturally and linguistically sensitive services, which are currently available virtually to people throughout Minnesota and may also become available in-person at a later date. He notes that the new intensive outpatient program (IOP) and mental health services join other Spanish-language offerings from Hazelden Betty Ford, including an educational and support program for families—accessible everywhere at no cost right in the home, regardless if one's family member is in treatment; a Children's Program; and a roster of recovery-oriented supportive literature from Hazelden Publishing.

"Our commitment is to ensure that Spanish speakers are able to access and participate in all that we offer," continued Garcia. "Now we can reach so many more people in a language that's most comfortable to them, which removes one giant barrier to asking for and receiving the help that can be so instrumental to recovery—an opportunity everyone deserves."

"We're trying to help create more access points to resources, and to build equitable care," added Joseph Lee, MD, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation president and CEO. "Not only opening up, but truly tailoring, our services to the thousands of Spanish-speaking Minnesotans is the next right step to bringing hope and healing to more people and families—and to becoming an organization that is of service to people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in ways that make sense to their cultures."

Following the Minnesota launch, plans call for expanding Spanish IOP services across the country.

1. S. Census Bureau (2015). 2009-2013 American Community Survey. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2013/demo/2009-2013-lang-tables.html.