Cultural and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant (CEMIG) Program
Building a Stronger Behavioral Health Workforce Through Culturally Responsive Care
The Cultural and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant (CEMIG) Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to strengthen Minnesota's behavioral health system by expanding workforce and access to culturally responsive mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) supports and services. Established in 2008 and codified under Minnesota Statutes §245.4903, CEMIG supports community-based organizations that provide culturally specific behavioral health services while developing the workforce needed to meet the growing behavioral health needs of Minnesota's diverse communities.
About CEMIG
The purpose of the Cultural and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant Program is to:
- Increase access to culturally specific mental health and substance use disorder services.
- Expand Minnesota's culturally responsive behavioral health workforce.
- Support organizations serving historically underserved cultural and ethnic minority communities.
- Build organizational capacity to deliver high-quality, community-centered behavioral health services.
- Improve behavioral health outcomes while reducing disparities across Minnesota.
CEMIG recognizes that culturally responsive services improve engagement, trust, treatment retention, and recovery outcomes.
Our Mission
To improve behavioral health outcomes by strengthening culturally specific community organizations and increasing access to high-quality mental health and substance use disorder services delivered by providers who understand the cultural experiences, languages, traditions, and values of the communities they serve.
Vision
A Minnesota where every individual has equitable access to culturally responsive behavioral health services regardless of race, ethnicity, language, culture, geographical location, or socioeconomic status.
Statutory Authority
The Cultural and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant Program is authorized under:
Minnesota Statutes §245.4903
The statute authorizes DHS to provide grants that strengthen behavioral health infrastructure through:
- Workforce development
- Clinical supervision
- Licensure support
- Organizational capacity building
- Culturally responsive services
- Community outreach
- Early intervention
- Recovery supports
- Program evaluation and accountability
Communities Served
CEMIG supports organizations serving culturally and ethnically diverse communities throughout Minnesota, including:
- African
- African American
- American Indian
- Asian
- Hispanic and Latino communities
- Immigrant communities
- Refugee communities
- LGBTQI+
- Other underserved cultural and ethnic minority populations
CEMIG also emphasizes expanding behavioral health access throughout Greater Minnesota and rural communities experiencing rapid demographic growth.
Resources
CEMIG Statute: Sec. 245.4903 MN StatutesGrants & RFPs – connect to DHS link
Reporting Requirements
Evaluation Resources
Quarterly Meeting Information
Contact Us
Behavioral Health Administration
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Cultural and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant (CEMIG) Program
CEMIG.DHS@state.mn.us