Esperanza United departments

Tool: Increasing language access in the courts The increasing language access in the courts tool: Examines advocates’ observations about the court experiences of survivors with limited English proficiency Offers guidance and resources to build systems change efforts for language accessibility In 2013, we conducted a nationwide assessment of court-based language accessibility […]

Systems change Systems change is a process that involves responding to an instance of lack of language access (for example) and builds on that one experience to create significant change in a system or service. The following steps were outlined through an interview with Enlace Comunitario, a social justice organization led by Latina women […]

Create greater access Helping individual survivors with LEP access community services Despite Title VI’s enactment decades ago, advocacy is still required in many communities for services to be fully accessible to survivors with LEP. As new immigrant communities continue to move to the US and into more parts of the country, […]

Changing systems 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 […]

Language access plan template This Language access template is designed to help your program create or enhance your language access plan. The template includes sample language that is relevant for working with survivors with limited English proficiency. The template is offered as a PDF document that is editable with Adobe Acrobat, […]

Direct advocacy tools Language identification cards and posters Minnesota Department of Human Services: This is a fairly comprehensive list of resources for Limited English Proficient individuals, including language interpreter cards, interpreter posters and other tools. City of Philadelphia: language access cards in 11 languages for access to services in the City […]

Community language assessment Which languages are spoken in our community? Identify the most commonly spoken languages in the area that you serve in order to help define your plan to meet those language needs. One comprehensive and easy to use resource is the mapping tool from The Civil Rights Division that […]

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 […]

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 […]