COMPONENTS OF A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN   COMPONENTS OF A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN

Components of a Language Access Plan Moderator: Hon. Patricia W. Griffin State Court Administrator Delaware Administrative Office of the Courts Panelists: Mr. Paul F. De Losh Director of the Department of Judicial Services Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia Hon. Maria Kahn Superior Court Judge Fairfield Judicial District, State of Connecticut Ms. Mindy Masias Director of Human Resources State Court Administrator's Office, Colorado Judicial Department  

LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS – THE BASICS   THE PURPOSE OF A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN: Provides the framework for a state/jurisdiction to work towards access to justice through effective implementation of language assistance programs in courts. courts Establishes standards of practice and future direction for courts’ language access programs. Prom Promotes consistency and a focus on achieving long-term language access goals. Promotes consistency and a focus on achieving long-term language access goals.

CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN   Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that recipients of federal financial assistance must take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their programs and activities by LEP persons.

  FOUR-FACTOR ANALYSIS An individualized assessment that balances the following four factors: Number or proportion of LEP persons eligible to be served or likely to be encountered by the program or recipient Frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with the program Nature and importance of the program, activity or service provided by the program to people’s lives, and Resources available to the recipient and costs.

BASIC COMPONENTS IN A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN   BASIC COMPONENTS IN A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN A Language Access Plan should include: Realistic goals and expected outcomes Information on: 1. Identifying LEP persons with whom your Court has contact 2. Explaining how language assistance will be provided 3. Providing training to staff 4. Providing notice to LEP persons about how language services are available, and 5. Monitoring and updating the language access plan.

OTHER LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN COMPONENTS   OTHER LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN COMPONENTS Identification of persons charged with implementing the Language Access Plan Specifics related to identification and assessment of eligible LEP persons in the service area, including Addressing the resources needed to assess the number or proportion of eligible LEP persons from each language group and to provide those services Outlining the work needed to maintain systems for data collection and management Description of timeframe, objectives, and benchmarks for work to be undertaken Identification of funding and procurement issues and steps to address them Collaborating with LEP communities and other stakeholders