Resources for Serving Persons with Limited English Proficiency
Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and/or who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English are considered limited English proficient, or LEP. Entities that receive federal financial assistance must take reasonable steps to provide LEP individuals meaningful access to the programs, services, and information that they provide.
Legal Guidance
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on national origin. In addition, Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” requires federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to LEP persons, and develop and implement a system to provide access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency.
Resources for Translation and Interpretation Services
- The United States General Services Administration provides federal agencies with a list of contractors that offer interpretation and translation services. There are also services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and persons who are blind or have low vision.
- The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) is a Congressionally-authorized civilian corps of volunteers with certified expertise in languages important to the well-being of the United States. The NLSC provides supplemental language resources to federal agencies.
- LEP.gov, the website of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency, has a list of interpretation and translation services, including regional and state-based organizations.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Snap Shots of State Population Data (SNAPS) lists the top five languages spoken in any given locality. This information can be useful as a starting point for determining the language assistance that may be needed. This information can be further informed by the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is an ongoing survey that provides data to communities every year on the latest information needed to plan investments and services.
- The Office of Minority Health’s Think Cultural Health initiative provides resources pertinent to emergency management and the provision of language access services. The Health Care Language Services Implementation Guide and the Cultural Competency Curriculum for Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Response provide valuable tools for the implementation of language access services as well as skill-building for working with interpreters and translation organizations.
- HealthReach, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and its National Library of Medicine, is a national collaborative partnership that has created a database of quality multilingual, public health resources for those providing care to resettled refugees and asylees. Resources include health education materials in various languages and formats (brochures, fact sheets, videos), provider tools (including information on refugee populations and cultures), and links to related Web sites.
- The National Health Law Program’s Language Services Resource Guide provides information on language services, including a list of national and state interpreter and translator services.
- The Migration Policy Institute’s Language Portal provides access to hundreds of state and local agency documents used to provide services to Limited English Proficient clients. It can be searched by state, language, and service delivery type.
- Local groups, such as community-based cultural organizations, may offer translation services. Local colleges and universities with foreign language programs may also be a resource. In addition, Medical Reserve Corps units may have interpreters as part of their community-based teams.
