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Community language assessment Which languages are spoken by those who come to our program? Identify the top 3 to 5 languages (other than English) spoken by participants who come to your program. Although they may be the same languages from Step 1, don’t assume that to be the case. If the […]

Language program assessment Identify key languages Identify three to five languages (other than English) that the people in your program primarily speak. Although these languages may overlap with those you flagged in Step 1, don’t assume that will be true. If the number of LEP (“limited-English-proficient”) survivors in your program doesn’t […]

Management tools Building greater capacity to provide language access is an ongoing process. These tools can help you develop strategies to integrate language access into the daily operations of your program. Points of contact worksheet This Points of contact worksheet is pdf document that you can utilize as a tool for […]

Tools Advocates play an important role in creating greater access for individuals with LEP to other community systems and resources. This work is critical because it decreases barriers for the individuals that you work with, makes approaching the same resource easier the next time, and decreases barriers for others in similar […]

Translated written material It is important that vital documents are translated into the languages commonly spoken throughout your community. Translated materials already exist on many websites and can be downloaded and used in your area (some may require the addition of local service information). For example, this site contains a large […]

Interpreters  Bilingual, bicultural advocacy is the best way to accomplish accurate, timely communication with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. When bilingual advocates are not available, professional, culturally competent interpreters are critical to ensuring equal access to safety. It is never recommended to use friends, family members or other survivors as […]

Bicultural and bilingual staff A staff that reflects the languages and cultures in your community is best positioned to provide all survivors with meaningful access to your advocacy services. Bilingual advocates can speak directly and unambiguously to survivors, determine if they are safe, inform them of services available, and assess whether […]

Identifying spoken language Languages that you have never heard before might be hard to identify—an important first step in finding an interpreter! There are a few strategies to try. Language identification posters If you are working in person with a survivor who is unable to tell you the English name for […]

Strategies for language accessibility There are many ways to increase language accessibility. This section of the toolkit explores strategies to enhance how you provide access (interpretation and translation) to the languages spoken by survivors in your area. Note: interpretation and translation should not be used interchangeably. Interpretation involves conveying information orally […]

Document your work Programs should keep a record of their Language Access Plans, policies, and the steps they take to put them into action, as proof that they’re meeting Title VI requirements. Being able to clearly show the steps you take to support survivors with Limited English Proficiency while fully respecting […]