NIWAP Library - Creative Language Access …niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/wp-content/uploads/...• Burma, Vietnam, Nepal, and Bhutan 100 different languages spoken in Boise

CreativeLanguageAccessAdvocacy:RemovingLanguageasaBarriertoJusticeinRuraland

UrbanCommunities

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 1

July29,2015WorkshopII,SessionB

NewOrleans,LA

Introductions• DetectiveShelliSonnenberg

– Detective,FinancialCrimesUnit,BoisePoliceDepartment

• OlgaTrujillo– PraxisInternational

• CannonHan– AsianPacificIslanderInstituteonDomesticViolence


LearningObjectivesBytheendofthistraining,youwillbebetterableto:• IdentifyandbuildresourcesinyourcommunitytoadvocateforsurvivorswhoareLimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)

• Thinkcreativelyaboutsourcesforinterpretationinyourcommunity


AWorkingExampleBoisePoliceDepartment,Idaho


RefugeesataGlance• Approximately26millionrefugeesandinternallydisplacedpeopleworldwide

• Refugeesaffecteverycontinent(exceptAntarctica)

• U.S.resettleslessthan½of1%oftheworld’srefugees(WyomingistheonlystatethatdoesnotresettlerefugeesintheU.S.)

• PresidentObamaandCongressmeettodeterminethenumberofrefugeestoberelocatedintheU.S.eachyear;thisyear70,000refugeeswillbeallowedentrytotheU.S.

• 80%oftherefugeesarewomenandchildren


RefugeeAllocation(70,000)

U.S.resettlementnumbers– 2015Africa .......................17,000EastAsia.....................13,000EuropeandCentralAsia.......1,000LatinAmerica/Caribbean......4,000NearEast/SouthAsia.........33,000UnallocatedReserve...........2,000


IdahoRefugees• Bosnia,Serbia,Albania,andKosovo• Columbia,Cuba,andHaiti• Afghanistan,Uzbekistan,Iran,andIraq• Sudan,Ethiopia,Somalia,Kenya,andBurundi• Liberia,SierraLeone,Niger,Rwanda,andCongo• Russia,Turkey,andtheUkraine• Burma,Vietnam,Nepal,andBhutan

***100differentlanguagesspokeninBoise***


SudaneseRefugeeCamp


Challenges• Refugeesleavebehinddanger,threats,substandardlivingconditions,andhunger– butalsoallthatisfamiliar

• Languagebarriersandculturaldifferences• Differencesinrules,law,punishments,andexpectationscausefearandconcernoftheunknown

• Familiaramenitiesareoftenforeigntotherefugeesintheirnewhomes


Challenges• Whatbarriersexistinyourcommunities?

• Whatresourcesdoyoucurrentlyuse?


ExamplesofHowTheseChallengesMightEffectLawEnforcement

• Time– Americansenseoftimevs.NewAmericansenseoftime

• Culturalawareness– Askmorethanonce– culturaldifferences– Whatcolorwasherhair?– Prayerrugexample

• Understandingoftheirbackground– Corruption/fearofgovernment– Fireandwater


ExamplesofHowTheseChallengesAffectLawEnforcement

• Education– Afghanboy‐ story– ChildrenlearningEnglish– changeinthefamilydynamic

• Accept/embracedifferences– whencanweworktogether?– Chief/elderswereleaders/decisionmakers– Males/females

“MyWay”isnotalwaysthe“RightWay”


ImmigrantCommunities

• Whilelookingintotheneedsoftherefugeecommunity,wediscoveredthattheimmigrantneedsintheareaweresimilar

• TheneedsforlanguageaccesscrossedoverandledtothecreationofapositionwithintheBoisePoliceDepartment:BPDRefugee/ImmigrantLiaisonOfficer


TitleVIoftheCivilRightsActof1964• Anyrecipientoffederalfinancialassistancehasaresponsibilitytoensureaccess/understandingtoLimitedEnglishProficient(LEP)persons

• TheDepartmentofJustice(DOJ)stronglysuggests,butdoesnotrequire,awrittenlanguageassistanceplanbeputinplace(thisdoesnotprecludetheobligationoftherecipient)

• DOJdiscouragesuseofinformalinterpreters(familymembers,guardians,caretakers,friends)exceptinlimitedoremergencysituations

• DOJleavesthedeterminationofwhatdocumentsneedtobetranslatedforthebenefitoftheLEPpersonsuptotherecipient


Whyisthisimportanttous?• Liability– DOJinvestigatesagenciesforcivilrightsdiscriminationviolations

• Funding• Protectionofofficers• Protectionofcitizens• Protectionforagency/organization• It’stherightthingtodo


CreationoftheBPDInterpreterProgram

• Informalinterpretersbackfiredandcausedissuesforthedepartmentandtheofficers

• TimeissueswhendealingwithLEPpersons– Officerswereoftentieduponcallsforhoursortheyclearedthecallbeforepropermeasuresweretakenduetolanguagebarrier

• FrustrationforofficersandLEPpersonsinvolved• Limitedresourcescurrentlyavailable

– Useinformalinterpretersduetolackofalternativeoptions– Languagelineisextremelyexpensive(ex‐ $192.00/62minutes)andthedialectsarenotalwayscompatible


Resources• LocalHospitals• Courthouse• Schools• LanguageLine• BoiseStateUniversity,SchoolofSocialWork

– Boiseinterpreters.com


ResettlementAgenciesinIdaho

• IdahoOfficeForRefugees‐ Boise• InternationalRescueCommittee‐ Boise• AgencyforNewAmericans‐ Boise• WorldRelief‐ Boise• CSIRefugeePrograms– TwinFalls


BPDInterpreterProgram• Interpretersareidentifiedbyestablishedrefugeeagencies,and/orestablishedinterpreterlists(lettersofrecommendation)

• Application/backgroundcheckscompleted• BPDtrainingcompleted

– Bothforinterpretersandofficers• Payment:$20.00/hr.– scheduledappointments

$25.00/hr.– callout(2hr.minimum)• Invoiceandaccountabilityformcompletedbysupervisoroneachcallout


InterpreterList

• Dispatchhasacopyofthelistavailable– 911callsstillgothroughlanguageline

• WatchCommanderhasaccesstolistinthefield

• Citrix– officersnowhaveaccesstolistonMDT(stillneedsupervisorapproval)

• Otherareaagencieshavestartedtousethelist


BestPractices:LanguageAccessImmigrantLegalServices• Provideslegalservicestosurvivors

• Hasbicultural/bilingualstaff– 6languages

• Specialemphasisoninterpretersfornativeorindigenouslanguages

• Statewideinterpretationservice

StateDualCoalition• Developedlanguageaccesstoolkit– Madeavailableonline

• Conductstrainingsacrossthestatetohelpmemberprogramswithlanguageaccessplans


BestPractices:ForStaffingYourProgram

• EngagingSurvivors– LatinaAdvocatefromlocalimmigrantcommunity– MonolingualSpanishSpeaker– conductingadvocacyinSpanish

• LatinoAdvocate– conductingbattererinterventionprogramsinSpanish

• LAV– ThreeBilingualAttorneys– Onefocusingonimmigrationissues


BestPractices:RemoteRuralCommunity

• Twostaff– oneattorney&oneadvocate– Bilingual– Bicultural

• Adaptingtocommunityneeds• Engagingcommunitymembers• Buildingrelationships&trust

23NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

CommonPitfalls• Tryingtobuildtrusttoofast

• Openinganofficeandexpectingpeopletocome

• DVorSAclassesinruralcommunities– Noconfidentiality=noattendees

• Beingthe“expert”• Askingtotrainrurallawenforcement

• Askingforchangesearlyinrelationships

• Askingfortrust…• Multilingualoutreach

– Noinfrastructure


Tools• CoordinatedCommunityResponse

– IncorporateLanguageAccess– StrategizeTogether

• InstitutionalAnalysis/CommunityAssessments– LanguageAccess– showsupintextanalysisregardlessofissuesexamined.


Tools:InstitutionalAnalysis/CommunityAssessment

• Methodsforinstitutionalanalysisandsystemschangeworkrootedinthefieldofsociologycalledinstitutionalethnography

• Toolsprovidewaysforactivistsandrepresentativesfrominstitutionsthatprocess“cases”tomovetowardapproachesthataltertheongoingcaseprocessingroutinesthatultimatelyshapecaseoutcomes– Avoidspointingfingersofblameatindividualsforfailingtoprotectvictims

– Practitionersandadvocatesworkside‐by‐sidetoanalyzehowsystemsorganizetheday‐to‐dayroutinesofindividualpractitionerstoeithercentralizeormarginalizeattentiontovictimsafety


QuestionsfromtheInteragencyLanguageRoundtable(ILR)

• Icanunderstandbasicdirectionsandinstructions,suchashowtogettoalocalstore

• Icanaccuratelyfollowallconversationsamongnativespeakerswhoarespeakingatanormalrateofspeech

• Icancarryoutanyjobassignmentaseffectivelyasifinmynativelanguage

• Icanfullyunderstandallformsandstylesofspeech;thisincludesslang,jokes,andpuns


Whatlanguagesdoyouspeak?Whatisfluency?

Listening3+(GeneralProfessionalProficiency)Abletounderstandtheessentialsofallspeechinastandarddialectincludingtechnicaldiscussionswithinaspecialfield.Hasbroadenoughvocabularythatrarelyhastoaskforparaphrasingorexplanation.Doesnotunderstandnativespeakersiftheyspeakveryquicklyorusesomeslangordialect.


Fluency

Speaking3+(GeneralProfessionalProficiency)Canusethelanguageaspartofnormalprofessionaldutiessuchasansweringobjections,clarifyingpoints,justifyingdecisions,understandingtheessenceofchallenges,statinganddefendingpolicy,conductingmeetings,deliveringbriefings,orotherextendedandelaborateinformativemonologues.


AssessingLanguageSkill• Interagencylanguageroundtableselfassessment

• Developinglanguagefluencytest• Havingbilingualstaffassess• Usingglossariesanddictionaries• Usingarticlesandtextsinthetargetlanguage• Localcollegeoruniversityassessment• Payingforaprofessionalassessment


Knowledge,Skills,andAbilitiesneededtobeaninterpreter

• Nativelikeproficiencyinbothlanguages• Knowledgeanduseofabroadrangeofvocabulary,includinglegalterminology,subject‐specificterminology,andslang

• Knowledgeanduseofculturalnuances,regionalvariations,idiomaticexpressions,andcolloquialismsinallworkinglanguages

• Abilitytospeakwithproperpronunciation,diction,andintonationinallworkinglanguages

• Abilitytolistentoandcomprehendvariousregionalaccentsand/ordialecticaldifferencesinallworkinglanguages

• Abilitytopracticeandfollowethicalstandards


LanguageIdentificationGuide

DepartmentofHomelandSecuritycreatedabooklettoassistwithlanguageidentification.

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/crcl/crcl‐i‐speak‐booklet‐law‐enforcement.pdf



NMCADVAccessibilityProject

• Reimbursenon‐profitserviceprovidersforvictimservicesincluding:– LanguageLine(throughPacificInterpretersandbilleddirectlytoNMCADV)

– LiveLanguageInterpreters– DocumentTranslation(Pre‐approvalneeded)– LiveSignLanguageInterpreters– VideoRemoteInterpreting– ADAkitsforDHHclients


BuildingInterpreterandTranslatorPools

Recruitingandtraining bilingualindividualstoworkasinterpretersandtranslators.fromthecommunity,including:students,medicalinterpreters,languageinstructors,andindividualslookingforcareeropportunities


InterpretationSkillsBuildingTraining

APIGBVassistsgranteesbyprovidingwebbasedandin‐person

interpretationskillsbuildingtrainings


MultilingualAdvocateModel

TheAsianWomen’sSheltersupplementsthelanguagecapacityofstaffbyrecruitingbilingualwomeninthecommunityaslanguage

advocatesTheseadvocatesareprovidedwithaninitial42‐hourtrainingaswellasadditionalongoingtrainings,support,andsupervision

Theyarepaid$15/hourandworktogetherwithstaffandclientsasateam,dependingonthelanguageneedsattheshelter


CommunityLegalInterpreterBank

Ayuda’s CommunityLegalInterpreterBankprovidesaffordablelegalinterpretersfortheDClegalservicescommunity

Itidentifiesexperiencedinterpretersandtrainstheminskillsneededforlegalinterpretationintheattorney‐clientsetting

Interpretersarethentestedtoensuretheircompetenceinthefieldsoftheirlanguageskills,understandingofthelegalsystem,andadherencetoethical

standards


TheSummit/LorainProject

TheSummitCountySheriff ’sOfficeandCityofLorainPoliceDepartmentdevelopedmodellanguageaccesspoliciesandprocedureforlawenforcement


MobileLanguageInterpretationProject

AT&TdonatedphonestotheSanFrancisco'sPoliceDepartmentthatdirectlyconnectwithLanguageLine

Services.IfanEnglishspeakingPoliceOfficerrespondstoadomesticviolencecallanddiscoversthatthevictimdoesnotspeakEnglish,sheorhewillbeabletousethephoneto

immediatelyaccessatelephonicinterpreter.


VictimTranslationAssistanceTool

UnitedNationsVITAisatoolcreatedbytheUnitedNationsusingaudiomessages,thatallowslawenforcementofficialstoprovidealevelofbasicassistance

tovictimsofhumantraffickingThisaudiotool,consistingofkeyencountermessages,wasdevelopedtofacilitatetheidentificationofatraffickedpersonandthelaunchofa

criminalinvestigationThirty‐fivebasicquestionsandmessageshavebeenrecordedand

translatedinto40languages,takingintoaccountspecialquestionsforchildren

http://ungift.org/knowledgehub/en/tools/vita.html


VictimTranslationAssistanceToolUnitedNations

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 7/20/2015 …42








ResourcesInterpretationTechnicalAssistanceResourceCenter

[email protected]|415‐568‐3326www.lep.gov

UNVictimTranslationAssistanceToolwww.ungift.org/knowledgehub/en/tools/vita.html

InteragencyLanguageRoundtablewww.govtilr.org/


InterpretationTechnicalAssistanceResourceCenter

CannonHan,ProjectCoordinator415‐568‐3326|[email protected],ProjectCoordinator415‐568‐3338|[email protected]


TechnicalAssistanceandMaterials

• PowerPointpresentationsandmaterialsforthisconferenceatwww.niwap.org/go/NOLA2015

• NIWAPTechnicalAssistance:– Call(202)274‐4457– E‐[email protected]

• WebLibrary:www.niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu


Questions


Evaluations


Thankyou!


THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY GRANT NO. 2013-TA-AX-K009 AWARDED BY THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE OPINIONS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION/PROGRAM/EXHIBITION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR(S) AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

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