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Staff Response <br />The Department of Human Rights and Relations, at the request of the Manager's Office, <br />the Health Department and the Department of Social Services, began to address the issue of <br />Title VI compliance efforts and improving access to LEP communities. Dr. Rosemary <br />Summers, Orange County Health Director, Nancy Coston, Social Services Director, and the <br />Immigrant Emergency Communications Subcommittee suggested that a tool be developed that <br />would measure the linguistic ability of interpreters keeping in mind the value of bilingual and <br />linguistically proficient staff. This tool could be used as part of any Department's voluntary <br />compliance plan and would comply substantially with suggestions from the Department of <br />Justice. <br />After several meetings including Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager, Dr. Rosemary <br />Summers, Nancy Coston, Kathleen Goodhand from the Personnel Department and Milan <br />Pham, Director of Human Rights, staff solicited a proposal from CHICLE, Inc. CHICLE, Inc. <br />was selected because it is a locally owned and respected firm, the County has an established <br />relationship with it for purposes of training and translation, and its staff have the knowledge, <br />experience, and credentials to create the necessary tool. <br />CHICLE's proposal includes, among other things: <br />• Designing instruments to measure Cultural Competency, Written Translation and Oral <br />Interpreting for Spanish speaking employees and volunteers <br />• Training County staff to administer the instruments <br />• Periodic follow up to ensure that County coordinating staff is kept abreast of LEP issues <br />as they arise <br />Concurrently, the Department of Human Rights submitted a Partnership Initiative Grant to the <br />United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) far grant money to further <br />fair housing in Orange County. One component of the grant application included the <br />development of an assessment tool in order to ensure Departmental compliance with Title VI as <br />required by HUD. The Department was awarded the Partnership Initiative Grant and the <br />complete cast of developing the LEP assessment tool is covered by federal funds. <br />Benefits to Orange County <br />An internal LEP assessment tool is an important part of Orange County's effort to comply with <br />Title VI and to serve LEP persons. Once completed, Departments will be able to use it as part <br />of their compliance efforts and will receive assistance from the LEP Coordinator. Some of the <br />benefits include: <br />• Uniform, improved ability to appropriately assess and utilize language skills of employees <br />and volunteers <br />• Improved access for LEP communities <br />• Mechanism for updating our compliance plans and remaining aware of emerging LEP <br />communities <br />• Reduced risk of liability for failure to comply with confidentiality requirements <br />• Reduced risk of liability for failure to comply with Title VI <br />