2005 NS HR&R - CHICLE Approval of Contract for Development of a Limited English Proficiency Assessment Tool

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 15, 2005 Action Agen~ Item No. ~-- SUBJECT: Approval of Contract for Development of a Limited English Proficiency Assessment Tool DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations/ PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Purchasing and Central Services ATTACHMENT: 1. Proposal 2. Letter of Support from the Health Department and Department of Social Services INFORMATION CONTACT: Milan T. Pham, 960-3877 Pam Jones, 245-2650 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To authorize staff to contract with the Chapel Hill Institute for Culture and Language Education, Inc. (CHICLE), with all costs to be paid by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to develop a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Assessment Tool. BACKGROUND: The development of this tool, which will be "owned" by Orange County, will allow the County to enhance current efforts to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination in government services on the basis of national origin and to increase the County's capability to serve LEP communities. County departments will be provided with a "certified" tool they can use to assess the spoken language proficiencies of staff and volunteers who may be called upon to speak Spanish, thereby improving the correct and efficient utilization of those individuals. Title VI Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating against or otherwise excluding individuals on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any of their activities. Section 601 of Title VI, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d, provides: "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."