LAO Report 2019 LAO Report 2019 - Online and Updated | Page 11

LOOKING FORWARD Recommendations and Priorities As the findings demonstrate, the City has made steady progress in providing language services for the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population. However, it is clear that there is more that both City departments and OCEIA can do to improve LEP services. In addition to monitoring departments’ compliance with the LAO, OCEIA will take a closer look at departments' quality of service and engagement of LEP communities. Your experience is important to us! Do you have feedback on language access services with City agencies? Email OCEIA at language.access@sfgov.org Priority areas for enhanced City services will include: Establishing citywide protocols for crisis and emergency response. Working in conjunction with first responder agencies, OCEIA will help create baseline language protocols to facilitate language access in crisis or emergency responses. Creating a Community Language Bank. OCEIA will implement a pilot program to train bilingual community members to provide interpretation services to City departments and partnering nonprofit agencies. Priority areas for enhanced LEP education and engagement will include: Enhancing the effectiveness of the Language Access Community Grants Program. Urging departments to increase their budgets dedicated to LEP outreach and engagement. 6