Providing meaningful language access

Immigrant survivors with limited English proficiency (LEP) face unique challenges when they seek services from domestic violence agencies and/or navigate the complex legal system. Language access services are critical to ensure that survivors have a fair chance to access safety and justice. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires that recipients of federal funding take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency. This section provides tools and resources for building language access as a core service for survivors with LEP.

The Interpretation Technical Assistance & Resource Center (ITARC) offers training and technical assistance to advocates, interpreters, and social and legal services providers on: federal and state laws and policies on language access in civil and criminal courts, meeting the needs of culturally diverse victims/survivors with limited English proficiency, improving language access policies and practices in organizations and systems, roles and responsibilities of advocates and systems personnel at various points of contact, model programs and practices for interpretation services, training and qualifying standards for court interpretation, and finding and working with interpreters.

Making Domestic Violence Services Accessible to Individuals with Limited English Proficiency: A Planning Tool for Advocacy Organizations

This toolkit bridges the gap between the laws, rules, and standards of services; and the effort necessary - community assessments, program policy, staff training, etc. - to develop and implement language access services for survivors with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Ensuring Meaningful Access for Survivors with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

According to the U.S. Census, over 25 million people over the age of five living in the United States speak a language other than English, and do not speak English very well. In order to carry out enhanced safety planning, ensure meaningful access to services, and provide critical information to assist survivors in making informed choices, it is imperative to ensure meaningful access to services for ALL survivors.

Language Access and Domestic Violence: Communicating with Limited English Proficient Individuals

This document provides recommendations for service providers for working with domestic violence survivors with limited English proficiency. Ethical and legal considerations are discussed, as well as tips for working with interpreters.

Resource Guide for Advocates & Attorneys on Interpretation Services for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Trafficking Victims

These guidelines focus on court interpretation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking with limited English proficiency. It is intended to inform how advocacy, interpretation, and language access can be integrated.

Identifying Whether an Interpreter is Needed and Tips for Working with an Interpreter

This tip sheet presents information on how to determine if a client needs an interpreter and provides tips on working with interpreters to communicate effectively with clients. It also provides guidelines on assessing the interpreter's knowledge of the Code of Professional Responsibility and on assessing the interpreter's skill to interpret the information accurately.

Language Assistance Planning and Self-Assessment Tool

This document provides a framework to help organizations develop a Language Assistance Plan.

Quick Tips for Using an Interpreter

This resource offers guidance on communicating via an interpreter. Available in both English and Spanish.

Developing Linguistically and Culturally Responsive Materials for Latina Survivors of Domestic Violence

This paper summarizes efforts undertaken by the National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence to develop responses to the particular challenges and barriers faced by Spanish-speaking Latina survivors and by organizations serving them. Included here are guidelines for developing Spanish-language material.

Quiz: Are your services linguistically and culturally accessible to immigrant and refugee women?

This quiz helps service providers identify if their services are linguistically and culturally accessible to immigrant and refugee women.

Model Protocol on Services for Limited English Proficient Immigrant and Refugee Victims of Domestic Violence

This resource outlines protocol for working with LEP survivors of domestic violence. It also contains answers to frequently asked questions, and has articles that cover working well with interpreters, basic dos and don'ts of advocacy with LEP clients, and a know your rights sheet for immigrants and refugees.

Developing a Language Access Plan for Your Agency

This tip sheet clearly lists the steps that domestic violence programs can take to develop a language access plan for Limited English Proficiency individuals.

What's in a Word? A Guide to Understanding Interpreting and Translation in Health Care

This guide explains the difference between interpretation and translation, and provides standards of practice and methods and modes of interpreting and translating.

Increasing Language Access in the Courts Toolkit

This toolkit examines advocates’ observations about the court experiences of survivors with limited English proficiency, and offers guidance and resources to build systems change efforts for language accessibility.

National Survey of Service Providers on Police Response to Immigrant Crime Victims, U Visa Certification and Language Access

This report explores police responses to immigrant victims of crime from the perspectives of various service providers, including legal services, pro bono attorneys, social service organizations, domestic violence/sexual assault programs, law enforcement and prosecutors offices.

Ensuring Access to Services for Survivors with Limited English Proficiency: Frequently Asked Questions

This is a compilation of answers to frequently asked questions regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which requires all programs that receive federal funds to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to individuals with Limited English Proficiency.

Reducing Language Barriers to Combating Domestic Violence: The Requirements of Title VI

This paper notes immigrant women's language barrier to accessing services for domestic violence. The paper provides guidance to police, prosecutors, courts, corrections centers, and shelter programs for determining their obligations toward immigrant women who experience domestic violence.

State Statutes Requiring the Provision of Foreign Language Interpreters to Parties in Civil Proceedings

This document provides a list of statutes by state on the use of interpreters in civil proceedings.

Increasing Language Access in the Courts Toolkit

LEP.gov promotes a positive and cooperative understanding of the importance of language access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs. The site acts as a clearinghouse, providing and linking to information, tools, and technical assistance regarding limited English proficiency and language services for federal agencies, recipients of federal funds, users of federal programs and federally assisted programs, and other stakeholders.

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Providing meaningful language access