1. Christy Hoff and Gillian Dutton October 24, 2014

2.  History: Case Studies  Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities  Interagency LEP Workgroup  Language Access Survey  Discussion 1

3. 2 1981 Civil Rights Investigation 3 Hospitals 1991 Reyes Consent Decree Department of Social and Health Services 1993 Nava Settlement Employment Security Department 2005 Administrative Office of the Courts Interpreter Commission

4. 3 Signed in 1991 Class Action by 14,000 LEP families who seek declaratory and injunctive relief Required DSHS to provide information, notice and services concerning public assistance benefits In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Stipulation, Agreement of Settlement and Consent Order Signed by Judge Thomas Zilly

5.  Built on 2 prior agreements with Office of Civil Rights Department of Health and Human Services in 1983 and 1987  Identify LEP individuals  Send notice in all primary languages without significant delay  Issue notices in English and 5 other common languages simultaneously  Provide monitoring, one time corrective action, and reinstatement of benefits if no adequate notice  Recruit and hire bilingual staff and interpreters Ensure that staff and interpreters are fluent in language 4

6.  Institutionalization of language access as a core value and a civil rights requirement  Development of training and certification  Collaboration and coordination (local, state, nation)  Production of reports and studies  National leadership (Language Portal, Certification, National Center for State Courts)  Increased need for interpreters/bilingual staff  Creation of best practices  Growing enforcement at federal level (Executive Order, OCR Guidance, monitoring) 5

7. Supreme Court Task ForceCommissioned AuditRCW 2.43Interpreter ProgramInterpreter Commission 6

8.  Established in 2006  17 members  Interagency  Advisory  Develops recommendations to eliminate health disparities by race/ethnicity and gender 7

9. Statutory Responsibilities: RCW 43.20.275  “…recommend initiatives for improving the availability of culturally appropriate health literature and interpretive services.”  “…understand how the actions of state government ameliorate or contribute to health disparities.” 8

10.  Convened in October 2010  Meet 4 times/year  Forum for spreading best practices  85 participants – 30 agencies 9

11. 10

12. Agency Policies and Plans Agency Language Access Coordinators Statewide Coordination

13. Sent to 37 agencies—33 responded (89%) 12 Board of Industrial Insurance AppealsCommission on African American Affairs Commission on Asian Pacific American AffairsCommission on Hispanic Affairs Department of AgricultureDepartment of Commerce Department of CorrectionsDepartment of Ecology Department of Fish and WildlifeDepartment of Health Department of LicensingDepartment of Transportation Department of Early LearningDepartment of Financial Institutions Department of Labor and IndustriesDepartment of Retirement Systems Department of RevenueDepartment of Social and Health Services Employment Security DepartmentHealth Care Authority Human Rights CommissionLiquor Control Board Office of Administrative HearingsOffice of the Family and Children’s Ombuds Office of the Insurance CommissionerOffice of the Attorney General Office of the Secretary of StateOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction Utilities and Transportation CommissionWashington State Board of Health Washington State Gambling CommissionWashington State Patrol Workforce Training and Education Coord. Board

14. ‣24% have an agency-wide, written language access policy. ‣36% have an agency-wide language access plan, procedure, or guidance. ‣33% have a designated language access coordinator. ‣18% have written guidance for identifying vital documents to translate. ‣39% provide language access training to staff. ‣56% share information about the availability of an interpreter or translated documents. 13

15. 8 (24%) have an agency-wide written policy 8 others are considering or actively working to develop policies 2 have policies in certain programs/divisions Language Access Policy 12 (36%) have an agency-wide written plan Language Access Plan 14

16. 11 (33%) have a designated language access coordinator 2 agencies have designated coordinators at the division or program level Language Access Coordinator 6 (18%) have written guidance for identifying vital documents to translate Vital Documents 15

17. 13 (39%) provide language access training to staff Training is typically provided to select employees and on an as needed basis Staff Training 14 of the 25 agencies that provide direct client services (56%) post information about the availability of language services Notification of Services 16

18. Bilingual Employees Language Teams Web Site Resources Language Access Workgroups Community-Based Organizations Telephone Menus Data Collection and Monitoring 17 Agency Practices

19.  Share findings with all agencies  Share findings with Governor’s office  Promote Interagency LEP Workgroup  Offer technical assistance  Partner with racial/ethnic commissions  Other thoughts? 18

20. What should we do to ensure meaningful language access in a systematic and coordinated way across state government? Legislature? Governor? State Agencies? State Employees? LEP Workgroup? Advocates? Interpreters? Translators? Communities? WASCLA? Academia? LEP Persons? Others? 19