Agenda 04-01-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC HEALTH TASK FORCE 2004: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN TITLE VI COMPLIANCE - LANGUAGE SERVICES Need Addressed /Rationale On August 11, 2000, the President signed Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency." The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP Persons can have meaningful access to them. , The Executive Order also requires that the Federal agencies work to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP applicants and beneficiaries. Title VI and its implementing regulations provide that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin under any program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance. The courts have held that Title VI prohibits recipients of Federal financial assistance from denying LEP persons access to programs, on the basis of their national origin. North Carolina has a diverse population consisting of 21.4% African Americans, 1.4% Asian 1.2% American Indians and 4.7% Hispanic /Latinos. According to 2000 U.S. Census figures, the Latino population in North Carolina is estimated to be 387,963 residents. North Carolina's Latino population grew by 394% between 1990 and 2000, the largest increase of any state in the country. The demand for providers in the health and human service fields who are culturally and linguistically qualified has increased accordingly. The growing numbers of Latino residents in North Carolina has presented new challenges to the State's health and human service providers. They have overwhelmingly reported that language is the most significant barrier to providing adequate care for Latino clients. In a December 2003 assessment of local health departments and community based organizations, the need for cultural diversity training and interpreters were identified as resources needed to support their efforts to provide effective services to clients. Infrastructure /Capacity Improvement Since 1998, the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the NC Department of Health and Human Services has collaborated with NC Area Health Education Centers Program, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, and the AHEC Office at Duke University implement the Spanish Language and Cultural Training Initiative (SLCTI). The initiative's ultimate goal is to increase the availability of culturally based and linguistically appropriate programs and services for North Carolina's increasingly diverse population. Training and resources have been offered across the state of North Carolina to front -line health practitioners and interpreters. The CTI will help local health departments and human service agencies reduce the potential for liability and assure compliance to Title VI. Budget Interpreter Ttaining ' • Spanish Language Training for Health Professionals • Cultural Competency Training Spanish Language and Cultural Training Website • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Training • : Staffing and Logistical Fees 45 $-,273,551::*. :. .$ .29", 000 $ 181,298. $ 2000 $ 18,000 $ 372,000 45