Report Summary
Each year , the Language Access Ordinance ( LAO ) report provides San Francisco ’ s policymakers with a picture of how City departments are doing overall in meeting the spirit , intent , and requirements of the LAO . The information helps identify successes as well as barriers faced , and can be used to help City departments better serve Limited English Proficient ( LEP ) communities .
This year ’ s self-reported data from departments indicates that , in the aggregate , the City is meeting its language access requirements . However , departments faced a number of challenges in providing language services ; since Fiscal Year ( FY ) 2017-2018 , both the number of bilingual employees and the number of LEP client interactions have continued to decline .
Notably , departments increased their language services budgets significantly this year . This is an indication that they understand the importance of making programs , services and information accessible to all San Franciscans .
City departments that helped provide services and information related to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency reported making language access a central part of their work . Because the public health order was announced in March 2020 , during the third quarter of the period covered by this report , this investment in language services may be more evident in next year ’ s report .
Although language services budgets increased across the board , there has not been a simultaneous increase in the number of bilingual staff . City departments should identify bilingual staff with the language fluency to translate and / or interpret vital or complex information , particularly during public health and safety emergencies .
LEP Client Interactions
Cantonese 287,474
Mandarin 26,726
Spanish
256,990
Filipino
Russian
15,639
19,037
Vietnamese 16,166
Other 37,152
5.7 % 2.5 %
2.4 %
2.9 %
Department Compliance 56
departments required to file reports
41
departments attended OCEIA ' s LAO Training
47
departments train staff on LAO policy
53
43.6 %
4.1 %
38.9 %
departments filed reports
51
had 1-on-1 consultations with OCEIA
46
departments have a written LAO policy
The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the value of language access and the continuous need to prioritize this as essential in order for residents , workers and members of the public to be fully informed and able to cooperate and respond during emergencies and disasters .
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