SABER Psychological Assessment Services for Spanish Speakers

The S.A.B.E.R. (Spanish And Bilingual Evaluations and Recommendations) program, founded in 2023 by MindSights, is dedicated to addressing the critical mental health disparities faced by Latino/a/x youth in Oregon, particularly those enrolled in Medicaid (OHP) or involved in the foster care system.

Latino/a/x youth face significant behavioral health inequities, including systemic racism, economic marginalization, trauma, and a lack of access to culturally responsive care. Despite making up nearly 40% of youth enrolled in OHP, Latino/a/x children often encounter obstacles such as language barriers and a shortage of bilingual mental health professionals. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), nearly 13% of children in Oregon who are victims of abuse are Hispanic, highlighting the pressing need for tailored mental health services for this community.

Psychological evaluations are essential for diagnosing mental health conditions, understanding the impact of trauma, and providing recommendations for care. However, Latino/a/x youth often struggle to access such evaluations due to language differences, cultural misunderstandings, and a lack of providers who are equipped to meet their specific needs. Nationally, only 8% of psychologists identify as Hispanic, with this number dropping to just 3.7% in Oregon. Even fewer are bilingual or trained to specialize in child and adolescent assessments. This shortage leaves many Latino/a/x youth without the culturally responsive care they need, leading to misdiagnoses or untreated conditions.

The S.A.B.E.R. program addresses this gap by recruiting and training bilingual Spanish/English child psychologists to conduct culturally and linguistically tailored psychological evaluations for Latino/a/x youth. The S.A.B.E.R. program is one of the few initiatives in Oregon that specifically addresses the mental health needs of Latino/a/x youth through bilingual, culturally responsive psychological evaluations. The program works to reduce behavioral health inequities and improve the mental well-being of Latino/a/x youth in Oregon. Ultimately, S.A.B.E.R. aims to create a sustainable model of care that not only meets the immediate mental health needs of Latino/a/x youth but also paves the way for more inclusive, culturally responsive mental health services across the state.