P-0185 - Orange County Government Limited English Proficiency Policy 12-11-2001

Browse Search

Orange County Government Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Policy establishes that the population potentially served by the Department or facility does not include more than one language minority group that satisfies the 25% standard. Each Department will develop a signage implementation timetable including, where appropriate, reasonable delays necessitated by the lack of current data on LEP populations. (Signage in critical service areas e.g. DSS, Health, Register of Deeds, are on-going pursuant to June 5, 2001 Board direction.) 3. Department-Specific Language Assistance Initiatives. In addition to the uniform language initiatives applicable to the department engaging in programs and activities warranting language assistance measures, departments will implement additional language assistance measures warranted by their particular programs, activities, and/or target/service population and forward them to the Department of Human Rights and Relations (HRR) to compile and forward to the County Manager. 3. Staff Training. All employees expected to implement the language assistance initiatives set out in this Plan should be knowledgeable about (1) the nature and scope of language assistance services and resources available through their department, and (2) the procedures through which they may access those services to assist in the discharge of their respective duties. Each department subject to this Plan will develop a plan and a timetable for the • implementation of the following actions with respect to staff training: 1. Employees whose routine duties include interactions with the public will be provided with written information on the scope and nature of available or planned language assistance services and the specific procedures through which such services can be accessed at the employee's work location. 2. Each department (or, as appropriate, sub-unit) will develop and incorporate into new employee orientation and/or training programs a module on the nature and scope of language assistance services and the specific procedures through which each employee can access those services. 5. Outreach. LEP individuals in need of language assistance services should have reasonable notice of the availability of such services. Each department with significant LEP contacts should undertake appropriate written and oral outreach efforts designed to alert LEP communities and individuals as to the nature, scope, and availability of the language assistance services set out in this Plan. In the area of outreach, each component subject to this Plan will take the following actions: • Where documents are available in languages other than English, the English version will include a notice of such availability translated into every language in which the document is available.