Looking Back
Looking Forward
RECOMMENDATIONS
Looking Back
In last year ’ s Language Access Compliance Summary Report , OCEIA recommended that City departments : Build capacity for language access Hire and retain bilingual staff and budget for language services Improve their data collection through best practices and trainings
Departments showed some improvements in these areas over the past fiscal year . For example , they increased budgeting for language services , and reported a record number of in-person interactions with Limited English Proficient ( LEP ) clients . However , Departments still need to improve their data collection methods and their ability to hire and retain bilingual staff .
Looking Forward
Given the recent amendments to the Language Access Ordinance ( LAO ) and the City ' s current economic climate , it is imperative for Departments to establish a dedicated language services budget and plan to enhance services for LEP community members . Language access is key to ensuring that all community members can stay informed with accurate information and continue to access the City services they need . Building capacity through the hiring and training of bilingual staff , ensuring accurate Departmental data collection , and allocating a robust language services budget can significantly enhance the quality of language services provided by Departments .
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