Without a person-center assessment of the relevant cultural aspects of the person’s identity, illness representations, treatment expectations, and social-structural impacts on vulnerabilities and resources, mental health practice often lacks the information to provide effective treatment. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) is a protocol for asking individuals seeking mental health care about their and their families/friends’ views of their situation, cultural identity, past experiences of help seeking, and expectations for future care. It can be used as a culturally sensitive method to engage care recipients in mental health services and guide a comprehensive evaluation. This presentation discusses the development and content of the DSM-5-TR core CFI and briefly summarizes research on its 4 uses: data gathering, therapeutic effect, training, and systemic care. At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant will be able to understand the value of a cultural assessment in routine mental health care and incorporate a cultural assessment in their practice to improve engagement, diagnosis, and treatment planning.