About Us

The Minnesota Mental Health Providers of Color group was created to address longstanding gaps in visibility, access, and equity within the mental health field. It emerged in response to structural limitations in insurance directories and other online platforms, which often fail to represent providers by culture, language, and lived experience leaving key populations without meaningful access to care. Its primary purpose is to mentor and support BIPOC mental health providers while elevating their presence in a system where they have historically been underrepresented or overlooked.

The group also seeks to highlight and challenge the systemic invisibility of BIPOC clinicians in professional directories and referral platforms, particularly those that have not adequately captured culturally responsive providers, languages spoken, or ethnic representation. This lack of visibility has directly limited access for BIPOC clients seeking culturally and linguistically matched care.

In clinical practice, the group aims to address stigma that often mislabels BIPOC clients as "non-compliant" or "resistant," when in reality these responses frequently reflect historical and ongoing experiences of bias, mistrust, and cultural mismatch within systems of care. These misinterpretations contribute to inequitable outcomes across the mental health continuum.

Finally, the group functions as a collaborative, shared-leadership network designed to foster connection, mentorship, and collective advancement among providers creating space for professionals who are too often isolated within larger systems to build community, share knowledge, and advance together.

The directory represents one component of this broader statewide effort. While the directory serves as a tool to increase visibility and improve access to culturally responsive mental health providers, the mission of MN MH POC extends beyond referrals. We're committed to strengthening professional connections, supporting provider development, fostering mentorship, and advancing a more equitable mental health system throughout Minnesota. 

If interested in listening to a podcast speaking about why the group and directory exists.

Are you a BIPOC mental health provider, professional, or student pursuing a career in behavioral or mental health? Join our Facebook community.