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Legal Duties to LEP Health and Social Services Clients. Jill Moore Institute of Government December 2004. Terms. LEP = limited English proficient Persons whose primary language is not English and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English
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Legal Duties to LEP Health and Social Services Clients Jill Moore Institute of Government December 2004
Terms • LEP = limited English proficient • Persons whose primary language is not English and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Federal law from which the legal duty to provide language assistance arises
Effect on NC Health & Social Services Departments • All NC local health departments and county departments of social services must comply with Title VI’s language assistance requirements. • NC found in violation of Title VI in 2001. This led to the “voluntary compliance agreement” (VCA) specifying what LHDs and DSSs must do to become compliant.
Effect on NC Health & Social Services Departments • VCA requires local agencies to: • Designate a Title VI compliance officer • Assess language assistance needs • Develop and implement a language assistance policy
Top 5 Things to Know • Public health and social services agencies that receive federal financial assistance must provide language assistance to LEP clients. • The language assistance must be provided at no cost to the clients.
Top 5 Things to Know • Oral interpretation must be provided to LEP clients.
How may agencies provide oral interpretation? • Bilingual staff • Staff interpreters • Contract or volunteer interpreters • Telephone translation services • Sometimes client’s family member/friend can be used, but …
Family & Friend Interpreters • Agencies must not encourage or require LEP clients to use friends or family members as interpreters.
Family & Friend Interpreters • Friends or family members may be used only if two conditions are met: • The client asks to use the friend or family member after being advised of the right to free language assistance, and • Use of the friend or family member does not compromise the effectiveness of the service or violate confidentiality.
Family & Friend Interpreters • Minor children should not be used as interpreters except in emergencies or other extenuating circumstances.
Interpreter Qualifications • Interpreters must be competent: • Demonstrated proficiency and ability to convey information accurately in both languages • Training in skills and ethics of interpreting • Training in confidentiality requirements • Knowledge of specialized terms
Top 5 Things to Know • Some written materials should be translated into frequently encountered languages.
Which written materials must be translated? • Materials that are routinely provided in English to clients and the public • “Vital” documents: applications, consent forms, letters with important program information, notices pertaining to reduction, denial, or termination of benefits, notice of availability of free language assistance
Top 5 Things to Know • LEP clients must be given notice, in a language they can understand, of their right to free language assistance.
More on Notice • Signs re: free language assistance in frequently encountered languages • Statements, in appropriate non-English languages, in public outreach materials • Other methods of notification as appropriate
Top 5—Review • Must provide assistance. • Assistance must be free. • Oral interpretation—all languages. • Written translation—some languages, some documents. • Notice of availability of free language assistance.