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RESOURCES IN
CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE, POLICY AND PRACTICE
Items arranged in order
of publication date with the most recent on top. Scroll down for all entries. Selection does not necessarily imply endorsement
of findings or research methodology by Diversity Dynamics. Entries are divided into four broad categories:
Health Care Disability Services Policing and the Justice System
Social Services, Education, Emergency Preparedness, and Transportation | Because of cultural differences and language barriers, immigrants are often cut off from community support systems,
especially during the period of adjustment to American society. If government and private agencies are to fulfill their mission
of serving the entire community, efforts must be undertaken to reach out to immigrants and to deliver services in linguistically
and culturally appropriate ways. Without such accomodations, integration will be delayed, and the health and well being
of immigrants, as well as the native-born population, will be jeopardized. These resources discuss innovative
approaches to this challenge. |
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Cultural
and Linguistic Competence in Health Care
Confronting Inequities in Latino Health Care, Special Issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine,
Abstracts and links to in-depth news releases on each article, October, 2009, 4 pp.
An important theme of this series of articles is that the country
of birth and immigration status of Latinos affect the quality of health care they receive in the U.S. The nine studies examine
topics such as rates of hypertension, diabetes, health insurance coverage, discrimination, quality of care, and spiritual
beliefs. Predictably, lack of insurance and undocumented status are associated with poor health outcomes. The authors argue
for attention to the needs of the Latino population in the current health care reform debate.
Moving to the Land of Milk and Cookies: Obesity among the Children of Immigrants,
Migration Policy Institute, Sept.,
2009, 8 pp
Based
on a federal longitudinal study of 21,000 children from kindergarten to 8th grade, 25% of whom were children of
immigrants, this study concludes that children of immigrants are a high-risk group for obesity, and that poverty doesn’t
fully explain their vulnerability. Obesity cuts across all socio-economic levels, but tends to be higher among boys, Hispanics,
and non-Hispanic whites. By 8th grade, 49% of immigrant boys were obese or overweight, compared to 33% of native-born. The
authors speculate as to causes, e.g. "many immigrants originate from countries in which food insecurity and stunting
pose significant health risks to children, so they may be unaccustomed to protecting children from the opposite problem that
comes from overeating."
The Health and Cognitive Growth of Latino Toddlers: At Risk or Immigrant Paradox?
Bruce Fuller et al, Maternal and Child Health Journal, June
25, 2009, 14 pp.
Looking primarily at Mexican immigrant mothers, most living in households earning $25,000 or
less annually and with limited educational backgrounds, the authors of this study explore the causes and consequences of "the
immigrant paradox," i.e. the fact that Mexican and other Latino immigrant newborns display robust birth weight and low
mortality compared to whites and African-Americans. The study finds that these early advantages do not persist over
time. Instead, these children at 24 months of age display higher rates of obesity and asthma and lagging cognitive development.
These results have important implications for federal policy makers interested in designing effective intervention strategies.
State Practices in Health Coverage for Immigrants: A Report for New Jersey,
Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, June, 2009, 29 pp.
This
report surveys the landscape of health coverage for immigrants in New Jersey. Although New Jersey provides more public coverage
and safety net programs for immigrants than most other states, New Jersey appears to lag behind other states with large immigrant
populations in its outreach and enrollment success. The report contains descriptions of outreach strategies employed in California,
Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York, and concludes that "culturally-attuned outreach efforts and improved enrollment
processes" will be "critical factors in the success of any public program to cover immigrants and their children."
An earlier CSHP reportprovided esimates of children and parents without health insurance in New Jersey, including non-citizens.
NJ FamilyCare Outreach, Enrollment and Retention Report,
Submitted by the Outreach, Enrollment and Retention Working Group in Response to the New Jersey Health
Care Reform Act of 2008, NJ Office of the Child Advocate, May, 2009, 32 pp + appendices
Created
under a provision of the NJ Health Care Reform Act of 2008, this Working Group was charged with developing a plan to improve
outreach to low and moderate income families eligible to participate in NJ FamilyCare. One of the subcommittees of the Working
Group examined the challenge of "Overcoming Barriers to Immigrant and Minority Access" (OBIMA).
The report contains numerous recommendations, either building on existing initiatives or employing new approaches based on successful
outreach strategies used in other states. The report also emphasizes collaboration among various departments of state government, such
as the Department of Education which tracks the location of limited English proficient students in local school
districts, and urges expanded use of incentives to community-based organizations to enroll uninsured individuals.
Improving Access to Language Services in Health Care: A Look at National and State Efforts,
Policy Brief, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., April, 2009, 10 pp.
This policy brief focuses
on the three states that have been most active in legislating access to language services in health care: California,
Minnesota, and New York. The authors discuss the history and scope of various legislative initiatives in those states. They
also identify key challenges facing states and stakeholders seeking to develop language services, including setting up information
technology systems to support the collection and management of data on primary language, promoting appropriate use of language
services by clinical staff, ensuring the quality of language services, and developing payment mechanisms for language services.
The State of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Health in California Report,
A report from the California Asian Pacific Islander Joint Legislative Caucus, Prepared by the University of California
Asian American Pacific Islander Policy Multi-Campus Research Program, Health Work Group, April, 2009, 67 pp.
By
disaggregating California's Asian American Pacific Islander group, comprising over 14% of the state's population, into some
of its many ethnic sub-groups, and investigating the health characteristics of each group, this report sheds important light
on the health needs of particular communities and appropriate policy responses to those needs. Koreans and Vietnamese, for
example, have uninsured rates higher than the state average. Filipinos have high obesity and smoking rates. Childhood asthma
rates are highest among South Asians. Vietnamese experience mental distress at higher rates than other groups. The authors
urge further efforts to disaggregate other communities, particularly the South Asian category, into Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi
and Sri Lankan sub-groups.
Hablamos Juntos, April 2009 This series of 7 short publications outline the requirements for effective document translation, a process often
approached haphazardly and without full understanding of its complexity. Tool One (Getting Started with Translations in Health Care) lays out the basic steps in the process, cautions against
use of unqualified bilingual staff as translators, and emphasizes the importance of document meaning, context and purpose,
as opposed to "word-for-word replacement operations." Tool Three (Developing the Translation Brief: Why and How) describes how to provide formal instructions for the translator,
based in part on an analysis of potential "source culture bias" in the original document. Tool Six (Assessing Translation - A Manual for Requesters) outlines a tested procedure for evaluating the
quality of translations.
A Comprehensive Framework and Preferred Practices for Measuring and Reporting Cultural Competency,
National Quality Forum, April, 2009, Public Version, 11 pp.
In
an attempt to "bring the cultural competency movement to the next level," the National Quality Forum (NQF), a broad-based
coalition of stakeholders in the healthcare industry dedicated to the definition and measurement of quality care, has produced
this "comprehensive framework – a road map – for measuring and reporting cultural competency." The framework
consists of four guiding principles, and 45 endorsed practices within seven domains: leadership, integration into management
systems and operations, patient-provider communication, care delivery and supporting mechanisms, workforce diversity and training,
community engagement, and data collection. The framework is intended for all healthcare organizations, but has applicability
to the broader human service field. The significance of this document is that NQF standards become the
primary standards used to measure the quality of healthcare in the United States. Full report is available by purchase only.
Webinars on Language Access in Health Care,
Polyglot Systems, 2008-2009.
A for-profit language technology provider
for health care organizations, Polyglot Systems has produced a series of five free webinars on the subject of language access
for hospital patients. Each webinar features national experts in the field. Among the topics covered are: language and
cultural barriers in health care: a growing crisis (September 18, 2008), leveraging data to improve the quality and availability
of language services (November 18, 2008), using technology to improve language access (December 9, 2008), the Prolingua platform
for hospital admissions and patient instructions (January 9, 2009), and funding sources for language services (April 1, 2009).
Undocumented Immigrants in New Jersey's State and County Psychiatric Hospitals,
New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate, February, 2009, 11 pp.This
report examines the plight of 55 undocumented immigrants in state psychiatric hospitals, deemed medically ready for release
into less costly residential health care facilities but who cannot be placed into such facilities because of their lack of
eligibility for federal benefits. In some instances, patients were in (or eligible for) legal status at one time, but lacked
the capacity to file the necessary legal papers. Among the recommendation in this report are the assignment of staff to work
exclusively with this population and the possible establishment of a state-funded community placement option for such patients,
which might prove more cost effective than prolonged hospital stays.
Robert Like, MD, et al, "Educating
Physicians to Provide Culturally Competent, Patient-Centered Care,"
Perspectives (New Jersey Association
of Family Physicians), Summer, 2008, 11 pp. In 2005, the New Jersey legislature passed
a law requiring all physicians to complete cultural competency training as a condition of re-licensure and mandating the inclusion
of such training in the curriculum of New Jersey medical schools. This article reviews the requirements of the law, as well
as related legislation elsewhere in the United States One of the six required New Jersey training areas deals with techniques
for overcoming language barriers, including best practices in working with interpreters. The article features a extensive
listing of web-based continuing education and professional development courses in cultural competence in health care.
Based on research conducted at 60 hospitals in the United States, this report recommends a common planning framework to
address the growing linguistic and cultural diversity of hospital patients. The report argues that planning must be on-going
and that solutions must be tailored to the needs and circumstances of individual hospitals.
Serving Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Results of a Community Health Center
Survey,
National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), June 16, 2008, 19 pp.
Representing over 1,150 community health centers in the United States, NACHC undertook a survey of its membership
to determine the extent to which limited English proficient patients are served by local centers and the range of techniques
used to bridge the language gap. Among other things, the report found that one in every three patients seen in local centers is
LEP, and that 74% of centers use bilingual nonclinical staff, 59% use bilingual clinical staff, 47% use staff interpreters,
27% use telephonic and/or video services, and 15% use external language agencies.
Hospitals, Language, and Culture: A Snapshot of the Nation,
The Joint Commission, 2007, 107 pp.
This report analyzes how
60 selected hospitals around the country are providing health care to culturally and linguistically diverse patients and offers
recommendations for improving hospital responsiveness to this patient population.
Language Services Resource Guide for Health Care Providers,
National Health Law Program, October, 2006, 186 pp.
This useful
guide contains state-by-state listings of language service associations, providers, and trainers. It also includes a directory
of web-based health information resources in foreign languages. Other sections cover assessment tools and signage.
Certification of Health Care Interpreters in the United States: A Primer, a Status Report and
Considerations for National Certification,
The California Endowment, September, 2006, 95 pp.
Author Cynthia
E. Road compares and contrasts nine different existing certification programs for health care interpreters, as well as the
eight state certification programs that were in various stages of development at the time of publication. She also explains
the various strategies for providing quality assurance in interpreting, of which certification (assessment) is only one part.
These strategies include appropriate recruiting, language screening, training, monitoring, and continuing education.
Globalization, Migration Health, and Educational Preparation for Transnational Medical
Encounters,
Peter H. Koehn, Global Health 2006 2:2
This article argues for a new paradigm in medical training called “transnational competence (TC).”
Noting that more than 700 million people cross international borders every year, whether as visitors, businesspersons,
or immigrants, the author argues that the quality of health care, as well as the success of disease prevention efforts, hinge
on the ability to identify “ the special circumstances that surround and define each individual’s health.”
According to the author, TC as a model is preferable to traditional culture-competence
education, which tends to reify cultural characteristics within particular groups, ignoring intra-group variations,
as well as differences of class, generation, experience, and education. The author proposes a far-reaching set of reforms
in medical school education designed to prepare a new generation of medical students for “ethnically and socially discordant
clinical encounters.”
Straight Talk: Model Hospital Policies and Procedures on Language Access,
California Health Care Safety Net Institute, 2005, 61 pp.
Drawing
on the expertise of "best practices" hospitals around the country, the California Health Care Safety Net Institute,
the educational and research affiliate of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, issued this set
of model policies and procedures on language access to guide its membership.
The Interpreter's World Tour: An Environmental Scan of Standards of Practice for Interpreters,
Publication of The California Endowment for the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care,
March, 2005, 44 pp.
As part of an effort to draft a national code of ethics for interpreters
in health care, this project reviewed 145 standards documents in 11 languages from 25 countries, including 36 U.S. states.
The scan was inclusive of all fields of interpreting. The scan uncovered both similarities and contradictions in these documents.
Bridging the Cultural Divide in Health Care Settings: The Essential Role of Cultural
Broker Programs,
National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development,
Spring/Summer 2004, 39 pp.
Defining cultural brokering as "the act of bridging, linking,
or mediating between groups or persons of different cultural backgrounds for the purpose of reducing conflict or producing
change," this report spells out the four primary functions of cultural brokers (liaisons, cultural guides, mediators,
and catalysts for change) and the many contexts in which they work. Most cultural brokers assume multiple roles and may
not work exclusively as cultural brokers. Cultural brokers, for example, may be health care professionals, social workers,
or community members. They may work at community health centers, hospitals, government offices, community-based organizations,
or religious institutions. The report features numerous case examples of successful cultural brokering initiatives. The authors
also see cultural brokering as an "essential" to the reduction of health disparities for racial and ethnic populations.
Language Access: Helping Non-English Speakers Navigate Health and Human Services,
National Conference of State Legislatures, January, 2003, 24 pp.
As
the U.S. population has become more diverse, language has emerged as a critical factor in health care access and quality.
This report indicates that the language gap can lead to delays in or denial of service, unnecessary tests, more costly or
invasive treatment of disease, racial or ethnic disparities in insurance, and other problems. The report surveys the demographic
landscape and current governmental efforts to address language access, focusing on four states that are using federal matching
payments from Medicaid and SCHIP to pay for language interpretation. The report also outlines "next step" options
for states and the federal government.
Health Care Access for Immigrants and Refugees: A Guide to Understanding Eligibility for Health
Care in New Jersey,
New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, 2001, 62 pp.
This guide
was designed to help health outreach workers and immigrant advocates in New Jersey to understand the sometimes intricate rules
surrounding immigrant eligibility for health benefits, especially in the aftermath of the 1996 welfare reform legislation.
National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care,
Final Report, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, March, 2001, 132
pp.
In 1997, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) began a study and consultation process
leading to the publication of this standard-setting document four years later. A prime motivation for this project
was widespread dissatisfaction with the earlier patchwork of standards that often left health care providers without clear
guidance as to what constitutes culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS). OMH consulted with numerous stakeholders
in the field, and after publication of draft standards in the Federal Register, received comments from 413 individuals and
organizations. The standards were published in final form in 2000. The 14 standards are organized by themes: Culturally
Competent Care (1-3), Language Access Services (4-7), and Organizational Support for Cultural Competence (8-14). Part II of
the Report discusses each standard in detail, covering intent, supportive research, and implementation issues.
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Cultural and Linguistic Competence
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News and Opinion
Cultural
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Promising Practices in
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Medical Language Interpretive Services,
Grady Health System, Atlanta, GA Video Medical Interpreting in a Rural Area,
Central Nebraska Area Health Education Center
The South Asian Total Healthcare Initiative,
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick,
NJ Therapy Program for Immigrant and Refugee Families,
Aurora Family Therapy Centre,
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Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Disability Services Disability and Displacement,
Special Issue of Forced Migration Review, July, 2010, 44 pp
This issue
is intended to address the neglect of disability among the world's 42 million displaced people. Twenty-six articles examine
conditions for people with disabilities in countries of origin or first asylum, such as Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Yemen,
as well as their experiences and opportunities in countries of resettlement, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and
the United States. In part, the articles are designed to debunk the myth that there are few people with disabilities among
displaced populations and to challenge the notion that accommodations are too costly or difficult to implement in crisis situations.
The final article calls for the development of a "conclusion" (or consensus statement) on disability to provide
operational guidance to staff of the UN High Commissioner on Refugees
The Rehabilitation Provider's Guide to Cultures of the Foreign-Born,
Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE), University of Buffalo, 2001-2008
The thirteen monographs in this series contain specific information about the cultural backgrounds of recent immigrants
in the U.S., with special attention given to how disability and rehabilitation are viewed in each culture. The monographs
cover the top ten countries of origin of the foreign-born population: Mexico, China, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Dominican
Republic, Korea, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Cuba. There are additional monographs on the culture of Haiti and the Muslim perspective.
Resource Guide for Serving Refugees with Disabilities,
United Sates Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, 2007, 139 pp.
This publication is intended
primarily for resettlement workers needing to understand the disability service system in order to make appropriate referrals
for recently arrived refugees. Content was developed based on input from focus groups and surveys. Sections include: a description
of the disability legal and service framework in the U.S., services for adults with disabilities, services for children with
disabilities, housing, assistive technology and other topics.
Latinos with Disabilities in the United States,
The World Institute on Disability, 2006, 51 pp.
Perhaps the first national overview of the situation
of Latinos with disabilities in the U.S., the report paints a bleak picture, finding "a strong reluctance to seek services"
among Latinos, coupled with "slowness" on the part of service organizations to use culturally competent practices.
Focusing primarily on vocational rehabilitation services, the authors discuss the cultural factors that impede access to services.
The report includes profiles of successful programs that are bridging the disability service system and the Latino community.
The report concludes with 13 "priorities for change," including "encourag(ing) diverse interpretations of independent
living....adopt(ing) effective outreach methods...integrating culturally appealing messages...and educat(ing) Latino community
leaders about disability issues."
Culturally Competent Disability Support: Putting It into Practice, A Review of the International and
Australian Literature on Cultural Competence,
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of New South Wales, 2004, 99 pp.
This international literature
review focuses on individual practice and skills, as opposed to system and organizational change. The author discusses the
relationship between critical thinking, "scientific mindedness," ethnographic approaches and cultural competence,
and calls attention to the theme of "empowerment" which underpins much of the literature. A section of the report
discusses strategies for engaging families and ethnic communities in supporting individuals with disabilities. Finally, the
author cites examples of effective outreach efforts to ethnic communities, including messaging strategies and media selection.
The Rehabilitation Service provider as Culture Broker: Providing Culturally Competent Services
to Foreign Born Persons,
Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange, University of Buffalo, 2001, 50 pp.
This
monograph is offered as "a starting point to understanding and providing culturally sensitive care to foreign-born
consumers" in the rehabilitation service system. The authors identify and describe the range of skills involved in functioning
as an effective culture broker, present a three-stage intervention model, and recommend an assessment tool designed
to elicit cultural information. The authors assume that cultural brokers will work as members of the rehabilitation service
systems, rather than as outside advocates.
Disability and Access to Health and Support Services Among California's Immigrant Population,
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, January, 2000, 49 pp.
This report examines rates of
disability and disability service utilization among California's immigrant population. Utilizing data from three supplements
of the National Health Interview Survey of 1994, the researchers find that adult immigrants "are less likely than U.S.
natives to report any activity limitation, difficulties in any activities of daily living (ADL's), difficulties in any instrumental
activities of daily living (IADL's), and any days in bed..." Taking note of the lower socioeconomic status and educational
levels of immigrants, the authors conclude that the so-called "epidemiological paradox" in health status, i.e. lower
mortality rates despite higher known risks for poor health, also applies to disabilities.
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Administration on Developmental Disabilities, 2000 The term cultural competence means services, supports or other assistance that are conducted
or provided in a manner that is responsive to the beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes, language and behaviors of individuals
who are receiving services, and in a manner that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring their maximum participation in the
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Cultural and Linguistic Competence
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Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Policing and the
Justice System
The Performance of 287(g) Agreements,
Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, March, 2010. 87 pp. including appendices
Pursuant to legislation passed by Congress in 2009, the Office of Inspector General
(OIG) was asked to review the operation of 287(g) programs to ensure consistency with legislative intent, proper supervision
and training of local law enforcement officers, and compliance with memoranda of agreement between the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and local authorities. As of June of 2009, DHS had 66 active agreements in 23 states involving 833 active
officers. In FY 2008, these officers identified 33,831 aliens removed from the U.S. during that year, representing 9.5%
of all DHS removals. The OIG report, however, faults DHS for not adhering to its stated intent of using the 287(g) program
to arrest, detain, and remove criminal aliens. Other management shortcomings are also detailed. The appendices include a copy
of DHS's response to the 33 recommendations contained in the OIG report. A Program in Flux: New Priorities and Implementation Challenges for 287(g),
Migration Policy Institute, March, 2010, 30 pp.
In
July of 2009, the Director of Homeland Security announced major changes to the 287(g) program, which permits state, county
and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigrant law, under negotiated agreements with the federal government.
The purpose of the changes was to target enforcement activities on immigrants convicted of serious offenses or deemed a threat
to public safety, not those guilty of misdemeanors or immigration violations, and to give the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency (ICE) greater control over the enforcement operations of local jurisdictions. This report compares the
pre-2009 agreements with the new agreement, and identifies a series of questions that will guide researchers, as they undertake
an in-depth field study involving six to nine jurisdictions with 287(g) agreements. The study will assess whether the program
"advances its goals of promoting security, improving immigration enforcement, and protecting civil rights."
Fact Sheets: Language Access Problems among Government Bodies,
Brennan Center for Justice, NYU School of Law, February, 2010.
Prepared on behalf of the National Language Access Advocates Network ("N-LAAN"), these fact sheets
find serious shortcomings in how the Department of Justice enforces compliance with Title VI requirements for language access
to federally-funded programs. The four reports cover state court systems, law enforcement agencies, immigrant courts, and
other federal executive agencies.
"We Want to Know What They Are Saying" A Multiagency Collaborative Effort to Address
Parental Language Barriers and Disproportionate Minority Contact,"
Vera Institute of Justice, November, 2009, 10 pp.
This report describes the approach and accomplishments of a multiagency collaborative work group striving
to facilitate the participation of limited English proficient parents in the juvenile and criminal justice system in New York
City. The initiative was designed to address the problem of disproportionate minority contact (DMC), or the over-representation
of African American and Latino youth in detention or correctional facilities. After conducting focus groups in English, Spanish,
and Chinese with ca 75 parents and young adults, the work group produced a 12-page multilingual informational resource in
plain language for distribution to community members. The resource is entitled, "Understanding the Maze: If Your Child has Contact with the Law."
Constitution on Ice: A Report on Immigration Home Raid Operations,
Immigration Justice Clinic, Benjamin N. Cardozo School
of Law at Yeshiva University, 2009, 38 pp
Utilizing records on ICE operations in the New York and New Jersey
area obtained under Freedom of Information Act lawsuits, this study is described by the authors as "the first public
document to collect and analyze the available evidence regarding the prevalence of constitutional violations occurring during
ICE home raids." Despite the goal of apprehending "high priority targets," e.g. immigrant gang members
and sex offenders, approximately two-thirds of arrests made under these operations are "collateral arrests of mere civil
immigration status violators." The authors are particularly sensitive to the impact of these efforts on local community
policing efforts, suggesting that "ICE home raid misconduct...undermines the traditional crime fighting mission
of local law enforcement agencies." The report contains a series of policy recommendations developed with assistance
from a six-member advisory panel chaired by Lawrence W. Mulvey, Chairman of the Nassau County Police Department in New York.
The Role of Local Police: Striking a Balance Between Immigration Enforcement and Civil
Liberties,
The Police Foundation, April, 2009, 256 pp.
This
year-long, groundbreaking study attempts to "give police a voice on (the) critical issue" of the proper role of
local police in immigration law enforcement. Based on focus groups with police officers around the country, the input of academic
experts, a survey of police officials, and a two-day conference in Washington, DC, in August, of 2008, this report concludes
that the "the costs of the 287(g) program outweigh the benefits." The study, however, goes beyond the controversial
287(g) program to examine the full range of collaboration between local police and federal immigration officials, including
the practice of checking the immigration status of noncitizens arrested for criminal violations, and the embedding of ICE
personnel within local police departments. The study finds that police officials are often subjected to intense political
pressure to "do something" about undocumented immigration, even when their understanding of the issues differs substantially
from majority opinion in the community. The report concludes with seven overarching recommendations, and features a series
of important studies that are included as appendices to the report, including an analysis of the rates of crime and imprisonment
associated with immigration and a study of the problems faced by undocumented youth transitioning to adulthood and lacking
legal work opportunities.
Crossing the Line: Damaging Immigration Enforcement Practices by New Jersey Police Following Attorney
General Law Enforcement Directive 2007-3,
The Center for Social Justice, Seton Hall University School of Law, April 2009, 31 pp.
Over a nine-month
period, this report documents 68 instances of New Jersey police referrals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), when
only a minor offense or no offense was charged. These cases are broken down into four categories: traffic stops, passengers
in cars, stopping people on the street, and questioning of victims or witnesses. Noting the possibility of a serious undercount
of such referrals, and the frequency with which Latinos were targeted, the authors see "a disturbing trend toward racial
profiling by New Jersey police." The report recommends that the Attorney General directive, which attempted to
set ground rules for police reporting to ICE, "should be repealed or fundamentally revised."
Bridging the Language Divide: Promising Practices for
Law Enforcement,
Vera Institute of Justice, February, 2009, 64 pp.
With funding provided by the federal COPS office, Vera undertook a comprehensive
study of how local law enforcement agencies in the Unites States are addressing language barriers. Contacting more than 750
agencies, evaluating practices from nearly 200, and doing in-depth analyses of 25, Vera singled out six police jurisdictions
doing exemplary work: Boise, Las Vegas, Lexington, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and Storm Lake. The report shows how their
techniques illustrate eight promising practices in achieving effective language outreach. The report contains extensive
appendices with sample agency documents and resources.
Webinar: Bridging
the Language Divide: Promising Practices for Law Enforcement, Vera Institute of Justice, February 24, 2009
Representatives from three police agencies in communities of varying sizes
(Boise, Idaho; Lexington, Kentucky; and Storm Lake, Iowa), identified by Vera as leaders in the provision of culturally and
linguistically appropriate services, discuss their respective approaches: a Spanish language immersion program for police
officers in Lexington, the development of a community-wide interpreter bank in Boise; and the hiring of civilian bilingual
outreach workers in Storm Lake.
http://www.vera.org/cij/translating-multimedia.html
Immigration
Enforcement: Better Controls Needed over Program Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws,
General Accounting Office, January, 2009, 44 pp.
In
response to a congressional request to review the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement entities to enter into
agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate in the enforcement of immigration laws, the
GAO undertook a performance audit of the program from September 2007 through January 2009. The GAO reviewed 29 of the
67 local law enforcement agencies participating in the program. The audit found major shortcomings in the management of the
program, including lax oversight and lack of clarity over program goals. Rather than ferreting out criminal
activity -- the ostensible purpose of the program -- 287(g) seems to be targeting individuals with minor violations,
such as traffic infractions. The GAO report concludes with five recommendations to improve the operation of the program.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09109.pdf?source=ra
The Need to Reconsider Attorney General Law Enforcement
Directive No. 2007-3, New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, October, 2008, 26 pp. On August 23, 2007, NJ Attorney General Anne Milgramt released a directive to local law enforcement agencies in New
Jersey desisgned to "establish the manner in which (they) shall interact with federal immigration authorities."
This report argues that the directive has undermined community policing, opened the door to abuses of local police authority,
and compromised protections against domestic violence. The report asks for major revisions in the directive to correct these
problems. http://demo.njipn.com/images//theneedtoreconsid%2340ec91.pdfMonitoring the Police: Opening the Process
to the Public, A Look at Monmouth County, Latino Leadership Alliance of NJ (Monmouth Chapter), National Latino Peace Officers
Association (NJ Chapter) and the Hispanic Directors Association of NJ, June, 2008, 8 pp.
This report discusses
the disposition of 705 citizen complaints against police departments in Monmouth County for the period 2001 to 2007. Most
departments were not in compliance with state reporting requirements and failed to discipline or prosecute at reasonable rates.
The report identifies departments showing best and worst practices, and concludes with ten recommendations to make the
police monitoring process more transparent and effective, with some attention to police relations with immigrant communities.
http://www.monmouthpolice.com/
Language of Inclusion: A Critical Look at Equal Access in the N.J. Court
System,
American Friends Service Committee, Immigrant Rights
Program, Summer, 2007, 14 pp.
Over the course of three summers (2005-2007), AFSC analyzed the extent of language
access in small claims courts in the five NJ counties with heavy immigrant populations. The study found that immigrants were
generally unaware of their right to free language services, key court documents were not translated into foreign language, and
that language services were generally not provided in pre-trial settings. The study highlighted best practices in several
vicinages and provided a set of recommendations to improve access, including better training for court personnel and more
effective use of county ombudsmen.
Police Chiefs Guide to Immigration Issues, International Association of Chiefs of Police, July, 2007, 47pp.
This publication is a useful
primer on immigration issues for police leaders in the United States. It covers issues as wide-ranging as day laborers, housing,
anti-immigrant groups, and human trafficking. Although the report refrains from issuing recommendations, especially on the
subject of police participation in immigration enforcement, it provides a useful framework for local decision-making on immigrant-related
issues. Overcoming Language Barriers: Solutions for Law Enforcement,
Vera Institute of Justice, March, 2007, 17 pp.
With immigration in the U.S. growing
and increasingly dispersed, many law enforcement practitioners are looking for ways to improve contact with people who cannot
speak or understand English well. This report was produced by Translating Justice, a technical assistance project sponsored
by the Vera Institute's Center on Immigration and Justice and three diverse law enforcement agencies-the Anaheim Police Department
in California, the Clark County Sheriff's Office in Ohio, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in Nevada.Attorneys General and the Protection of Immigrant Communities,
National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School, Memorandum,
January 12, 2007, 11 pp.
This document argues that immigrants
are "particularly exposed to predatory practices, abuse, and fraud" and that state attorneys general must focus
their attention on this growing and often vulnerable population. It gives examples of successful initiatives around the country
and details strategies that may be employed in the "emerging field" of immigrant protection services.
Nine Point Position Statement: Enforcement of Immigration
Laws by Local Police Agencies,
Major Cities Chiefs Association, June, 2006, 11 pp.
Representing 57 police jurisdictions in the United States and Canada with
populations of over 1.5 million, the Major Chiefs Associations produced this consensus position statement on the question
of local police enforcement of immigration laws. The statement enumerates several concerns with such a broadening of local
police power, including that of undermining the trust and cooperation of immigrant communities, and the diversion of police
resources away from normal police functions.
Justice
and Safety in America's Immigrant Communities, Princeton University, Policy Research Institute for the Region, 2006, 104 pp.
The report contains summaries and conclusions from
a series of three, all-day sessions devoted to the topic of improving relations between police and immigrant communities.
The project was conducted in collaboration with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and the Vera Institute of Justice.
http://region.princeton.edu/media/pub/pub_main_30.pdf
Translating Justice: A Guide for New York City's Justice and Public
Safety Agencies to Improve Access for Residents with Limited English Proficiency,
Vera Institute of Justice, April, 2006, 27 pp.
This
guide provides an overview of language access needs and promising practices within New York City's justice agencies.
The guide also describes innovative approaches elsewhere in the country and overseas. The core of the report consists
of an analysis of various approaches, including the use of bilingual employees, professional interpreters, and emerging
technology. The guide concludes with suggested "next steps."
Building Strong Police-Immigrant Community Relations: Lessons from a New York City Project,
Vera Institute of Justice, August, 2005, 33 pp.
This report provides an account of a project in 2003-2004
to create a "regular forum for communication between police and immigrant communities," focusing on the Arab-American,
African, and emerging Latin-American communities. The report discusses outreach strategies, session content, and recommendations
for institutionalizing the initiative.
Equal Justice, Unequal Access: Immigrants and America's Legal System, Recommendations
for Action and Collaboration,
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, 2005, 43 pp.
The
combined effect of language barriers that prevent immigrants from seeking civil legal assisstance and the lack of linguistically
and culturally appropriate and accessible services creates the need for comprehensive reform in order to produce a more user-friendly
and efficient system. This report contains broad recommendations and proposes specific action steps to achieve this goal.Forcing Our Blues into Gray Areas: Local
Police and Federal Immigration Enforcement, A Legal Guide for Advocates, Appleseed, 2005, 34 pp.
This report
outlines the legal history behind local law enforcement of federal immigration laws and argues that such expansion of local
police authority makes fighting crime and terrorism more difficult.
http://appleseeds.net/servlet/GetArticleFile?articleFileId=177
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Links
Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Policing and the Justice System
(For
link descriptions, go to Links page) |
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News and Opinion
Cultural and Linguistic Competence
in
policing and the justice system
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Lynn's Immigrants and Police Share a Gulf, Language Barriers, Distrust Block Links,
The Boston Globe, September 25, 2009
Haitian Abuse Victims Seeking Help,
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, September 25, 2009
Police (Camden, NJ) to Address Fears.
Courier Post, August 31, 2009
Skokie Review, July 22, 2009
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Cultural and Linguistic Competence in General Social Services, Education, Emergency Preparedness, and Transportation
Caught Between Systems: The Intersection of Immigration and Child Welfare Policies,
First Focus and the
Migration and Child Welfare National Network, 2010
More than 5 million children living in the United States
today have at least one parent who is an undocumented immigrant. This publication is a collection of three policy briefs examining
the plight of these children as they come into contact with the child welfare system. Each brief offers recommendations for
policy changes and system reforms. The Impact of Immigration Enforcement on Child Welfare (12 pp) provides an overview of immigrant enforcement activities and the “unintended consequences for children and
families.” Public Benefits and Child Welfare Financing (9 pp) highlights the difficulties that immigrant parents, caretakers, and relatives face when their immigration status prevents
them from accessing critical public resources, court-mandated reunification services, or permanency options.
Language, Culture and Immigrant Relief Options (10 pp) observes that child welfare policies and practices often do not reflect the current demographics of the child population,
creating risks for children of immigrants within the system.
Language Use in
the United States: 2007,
U.S. Census Bureau, April, 2010, 16 pp.
Twenty percent of the American people speak a language other than English at home.
Based on data from the 2007 American Community Survey, this report examines the preponderance of various languages, patterns
of language change since 1980, the English-speaking ability of various language communities, and language concentrations in
the 50 states. A particularly useful table estimates the number of limited English proficient people in each state.
A Social Worker's Tool Kit for Working with Immigrant
Families: A Child Welfare Flowchart,
Migration and Child Welfare National
Network (MCWNN), August, 2009, 10 pp.
This
resource was developed in response to the growing recognition that the child welfare field faces many new issues of practice,
policy and research arising from the rapid growth in the population of children in immigrant families. Established in 2006
and consisting of some 16 organizations around the country, MCWNN has sponsored several national conferences and produced
a series of publications related to the challenge of working with vulnerable immigrant children. A full listing of these resources
may be found on the website of the Network.
Is This Working? Assessment and Evaluation Methods
Used to Build and Assess Language Access Services in Social Service Agencies,
Migration Policy Institute, July, 2009, 28 pp.
This publication contains a tool kit of solutions for
public and private agencies interested in establishing and maintaining high quality language access programs, and features descriptions
of effective LEP data collection systems and program self-assessment tools. The report is particularly useful in cataloguing
the range of methods used to evaluate the language skills of new and current employees. Detailed descriptions
of innovative and promising practices in the states of California, Hawaii, Iowa, Minneosta, Washington, and Wisconsin are
highlighted. The "secret shopper" program in New York City is also profiled.
Language Access Webinars,
Migration Policy Institute,
2008-2009
Growing out of
an Annie E. Casey Foundation initiative to promote sharing and dialogue among public sector officials involved in developing
and managing language access services, MPI's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy launched a series of one-hour
webinars on language access in October of 2008. Each webinar features several presenters who discuss innovative practices
in various parts of the country. Among practices highlighted in the first three webinars are: Washington State's process for
certifying and compensating bilingual employees; New York City's 2008 Citywide Executive Order on language access; the Washington,
DC, Community Interpreter Bank; the Alaska Language Interpreter Center; the Office of Multi-Cultural Services (Hennepin County,
MN); and the Translation and Interpretation Unit of the New York City Dept. of Education.
Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities:
Challenges, Promising Practices and Recommendations,
A Report by the Family Violence Prevention Fund for the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation, March, 2009, 64 pp.
This report
provides recommendations for funders interested in addressing the special challenges and complexities associated with preventing
and responding to intimate partner violence in newcomer communities. The report discusses the tension that often exists between
service provision and prevention efforts, as well as the optimal framework for service provision, i.e. whether specialized
in nature or housed within a larger community-based organization offering a variety of services unrelated to domestic violence.
The report features a 30-page literature review by Mieko Yoshihama of the University of Michigan School of Social Work, as
well as case studies of 7 organizations doing exemplary work in the field, including the Arab-American Family Support Center
in Brooklyn, NY, Manavi in New Jersey, and Casa de Esperanza in St. Paul, MN.
Language Access Advocacy,
Management Information Exchange: An Exchange of Information for Legal
Services, Winter, 2008, 7 pp
This article discusses
recent successful language access advocacy campaigns organized by legal service entities, in partnership with immigrant community-based
organizations in Arizona, California, New York, and Pennsylvania. The article is divided into two sections: the first focusing
on language access in public benefits and health care, and the second, on language access in courts and law enforcement. The
authors highlight and explain effective advocacy strategies.
Top Tips from Responses to the Survey of Language Access
Strategies Used by Federal Government Agencies,
Federal Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency,
September 3, 2008, 4 pp.
Updated periodically, this
document contains 25 recommendations in 10 categories, including strong language access coordination and accountability, meangingful
access to web-based information, and consistent enforcement of quality control standards.
Integrating Immigrant Families in Emergency Response, Relief
and Rebuilding Efforts,
The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants
and Refugees, 2008, 22 pp.
This report provides a framework
for local planning to ensure that vulnerable limited English proficient families are not neglected and placed at risk before,
during, and after disasters. More like a manual, the report contains step-by-step suggestions for emergency responders and
examples of effective immigrant outreach practices from communities around the country. The report also features a listing
of funding sources that could be tapped to support emergency outreach work to immigrant families.
Addressing the Needs of Immigrants and Limited English Communities
in Disaster Planning and Relief,
National Immigration Law Center, October 28, 2008, 11 pp.
Drawing on evidence of serious deficiencies in managing emergencies in localities
with large numbers of immigrants, this report makes a number of recommendations, including the formation of partnerships between
government agencies, disaster relief organizations, and immigrant-serving organizations; the avoidance of inquiries into immigrant
status; the cessation of immigrant enforcement activities for the duration of the emergency; the relaxation of documentation
requirements in areas where a disaster has caused the widespread destruction of documents; ensuring that disaster victims
do not lose their preexisting immigration status due to the death of a spouse or loved one; and greater attention to meaningful
language assistance in the delivery of disaster-related services.
The Intersection of Immigration and Child Welfare:
Emerging Issues and Implications,
Conference Proceedings, Second National Forum, Migration and
Child Welfare National Network, April 1-3, 2008,
34 pp.
Bringing together researchers and practitioners interested in the impact of migration on child welfare policy and
practice, this conference reviewed the status of key issues identified in an earlier 2006 conference on the same subject.
The 2008 proceedings include a report from the "Promising Practices Committee," discussions of several case histories,
a summary of the work of the Immigrant Children's Advocacy Project in Chicago, and abstracts of research projects underway
in various parts of the country. In a presentation entitled "Beyond Cultural Competence," Jorge Cabrera of Casey Family Programs argues that practitioners working
with immigrant children must pay attention to "issues such as acculturation, the family's ‘story' of migration,
the social, economic and political circumstances that led to the migration experience, the struggles and hardships experienced
by the family in their journey and the levels of isolation and connection that they may be experiencing in their present community
setting."
School Year Filled with Missed Communication,
Equity Monitoring Project for Immigrant and Refugee Education (EMPIRE),
June 27, 2007, 25 pp.
In 2006, the Chancellor of the
New York City Department of Education adopted Regulation A-663 for the purpose of providing translation and interpretation
services to hundreds of thousands of parents with limited English skills. This report, based on parent surveys, focus groups,
and on-site visits, documents widespread noncompliance with the regulation and contains recommendations, such as the
establishment of an accountability system, professional development for administrative staff, and parent education efforts,
to improve the effectiveness of the regulation.
Achieving Language and Cultural Competence in Serving People with Limited English Proficiency in Illinois
Department of Human Services Programs: Findings and Recommendations Report,
January 30, 2006, 24 pp. (Link no longer
active)
With support from several local foundations, the Illinois Dept. of Human Services undertook a comprehensive
review of its track record in enabling limited English proficient individuals to access its programs. An outside
research team interviewed division staff members and analyzed documents and reports related to issues of language and cultural
competence. The team then produced a series of nine recommendations, constituting a "strategic plan" for increasing
the departments' effectiveness in serving LEP individuals.
Anthony J. Marsella & Michael A. Christopher, Ethnocultural
Issues in Disasters: A Overview of Research, Issues, and Directions,
Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 27(2004), 18 pp.
The authors argue that disasters often involve "a complex cultural encounter,"
and that responders need to be aware of the communication patterns and cultural resources of impacted communities so as to
provide effective assistance and promote "post-traumatic growth," not depression. The authors outline the scope
of cultural competence training for disaster workers and offer a series of recommendations designed to improve culturally
sensitive service delivery during disasters. Finally, they propose a research agenda, including the development of a "cultural
disaster research archives" and the study of cultural variations in loss, grief, and bereavement.
Mobility Information Needs of Limited English Proficiency
Travelers in New Jersey,
New Jersey Institute of Technology, September, 2004,
Produced under contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, this
comprehensive study explores the public transit needs of limited English proficient (LEP) persons in New Jersey. Noting the
high correlation between public transit use and LEP status, the study reviews pertinent literature on language access, identifies
best practices in LEP transit access both nationally and internationally, reports on the results of a survey to 575 LEP people
on transit issues, discusses findings from 10 focus groups with LEP individuals, and outlines a series of cost-effective recommendations
for improving access.
Denied at the Door: Language Barriers Block Immigrant Parents
from School Involvement,
Advocates for Children of New York and the New York Immigration Coalition,
February 19, 2004, 55 pp.
Based on a survey of immigrant
parents and students in the New York City School System, this report documents widespread failure to communicate in native
language with immigrant parents. Without parental involvement in the education process, students will be deprived of parental
support and schools will not have the full cooperation of parents.
Language Access in State Departments,
Bilingual Services Program, California State Personnel Board, April,
2001, 36 pp.
In compliance with California legislation
mandating that state agencies employ a sufficient number of qualified bilingual staff in public-contact positions and translate
key documents into languages spoken by their clients, the Bilingual Services Program (BSP) was established in June, 2000,
with six staff positions. Perhaps the first comprehensive assessment of multi-lingual communication capacity within
state government, this report represents the initial findings and recommendations of the BSP based on interviews with 119
state agencies, three public hearings, and input from two advisory task forces. The report points out major areas of
deficiency, as well as promising practices in particular departments/agencies. The advantages of a coordinated approach to
language accessibility are stressed throughout the report.
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Links
Language and Cultural Competence in Social Services, Education, Emergency Preparedness,
and Transportation
(For link descriptions, go to Links page) |
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News and Opinion
Cultural
and Linguistic Competence
in Social Services, Education, Emergency Preparedness, and Transportation
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Language Help for New York City's Immigrants Fall Short,
The New York Times, July 6, 2010 Montgomery County (MD) leader signs language access executive order,
Gazette.net, March 10, 2010 Proposed Cuts would End California Assistance for Most New Legal Immigrants,
The Los Anegles Times, February 16, 2010 Civilian Agencies Help Fuel Growth in Translation Contracts,
Nextgov, February 12, 2010 Governor of North Carolina tangles with Beauford County Commissioners over state language access policy,
The Washington Daily News (NC), February 2, 2010 Legal Maze of Immigration Hard for Many to Navigate,
The Capital Times (Madison, WI), January 20, 2010 Toolkits Available to Child Welfare Workers to Better Handle Immigration-Related Issues,
Reuters, November 4, 2009 Welfare Agency is Sued over Translation Service,
The New York Times blogs, August 11, 2009 Councils spend £50m a year translating documents noone reads,
Sunday Telegraph (United Kingdom), June 13, 2009 Nashville voters reject "English Only" charter amendment,
January 23, 2009 Mayor Wildes of Englewood, N.J., discusses language access,
November 19, 2008 Study debunks myth that early immigrants quickly learned English,
October 16, 2008 Mayor Bloomberg issues language access executive order,
July 27, 2008 Mayor Nutter (Philadelphia) issues language access executive order,
June 6, 2008 |
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