Agenda - 06-16-20; 8-i - Update to Orange County Limited English Proficiency Policy (“Orange County “Language Access Plan”)

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Approved December 11, 2001 “Tool Box” for Providing Services to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Clients The components listed below are offered as suggested tools that departments may use to accommodate the needs of non-English or limited-English speaking clients. Approaches may vary depending upon specific departmental needs. 1) County Employees Interpreter services may be provided through County employees as follows: a) Employee whose primary duty is to provide interpreter services. i) This employee may be hired by a single department or shared among departments who need interpreter services for a major portion of the working day on a daily basis. This type of arrangement would be recommended primarily for departments who are categorized in the Policy as a provider of “critical services” and by the information compiled in the departmental surveys, indicated a high need for interpreter services. Departments seeking to add staff for this function would be subject to the new employee approval carried out as part of the annual budget process. b) Limited interpreter services provided by employees on a rotational basis. i) Departments with bi-lingual employees, who have demonstrated fluency, may participate in an interpreter pool. ii) Employees may be scheduled during certain hours of the week to receive calls from any County department needing interpreter assistance. This would be particularly advantageous to departments with infrequent interpreter needs. iii) Call lists could be available on the Intranet so a Department needing interpreter service could easily access help while the caller was on the line. iv) In order to experience the least amount of disruption in their regular job duties, employees assigned to offices (as opposed to field personnel) would be most effective in this capacity. v) Departments may with County Manager approval offer incentives to employees who participate in the interpreter pool when it is not a part of their primary duties. 2) Independent contractors. a) Interpreters would be expected to execute a contract with the County prior to being used for interpreter services. b) Interpreters must prove competency to the County’s satisfaction prior to being included on the list of available service providers. c) A list of interpreters who may be willing/able to provide interpreter services is centrally maintained. d) Departments needing interpreter services may consult the list and schedule the interpreter as needed. 3) Telephone Interpreter Services. (Such as the AT & T service) a) The Department of Emergency Management has established an account for interpreter services through AT & T and makes it available to any County department who may choose to utilize it. Departments desiring to utilize the service should seek information in advance from Dinah Jeffries, Emergency Management Department at 968-2050. 15