San Francisco Language Access Ordinance Summary Report LAO 2020 - Jan 31 FINAL | Page 10

Findings
S
an Francisco continues to
increase its language services
budgets, but at an incremental
pace. In comparison to the previous
year, the overall budget reported
by City departments for language
access increased by $3.7 million
from $12.4 million to $16.1 million.
However, when compared to the
City’s total operating budget, this
amount is just a small fraction, at less
than 1%.
The top five departments with
the greatest increases to their
language services budgets are the
Municipal Transportation Agency
with a $660,705 increase, the
Police Department with a $333,583
increase, the Department of Public
Health with a $332,335 increase, the
Public Utilities Commission with a
$286,565 increase, and the Public
Library with a $229,427 increase.
These increases, particularly in
departments that have high levels
of public contact or provide critical
services, indicate that departments
are taking their charge seriously to
serve all residents equally, regardless
of language ability. It represents
the type of investment that more
departments need to make in their
language services and a movement
in a positive direction.
Unfortunately, this year’s report
also highlights some concerning
When vulnerable communities
are afraid or reluctant to
interact with City departments,
the health and safety of all
residents are impacted.
trends. Across the board, despite an
increase in our City’s total estimated
population from 864,263 to 870,044
and greater financial investment, City
departments are seeing decreases
in total Limited English Proficient
(LEP) clients served. In Fiscal Year (FY)
2017-2018, departments reported
1,000,627 † total LEP client interactions.
However, in FY 2018-2019 that
number decreased by nearly 20% to
811,645 † interactions. Also in decline
is the percentage of LEP clients as a
proportion of the entire City client
population. In FY 2017-2018, LEP
clients represented 8.3% of the total
client population. This declined to
6.4% in the most recent reporting.
The City’s percentage of bilingual
public contact staff also decreased
this year. From FY 2017-2018 to FY
2018-2019, there was a 3.4% decrease
in the percentage of bilingual public
contact staff when compared to
public contact staff citywide. Many
factors can account for this decline,
including the natural attrition of
†
5 / LAO 2020
employees, poor recruitment of
bilingual employees, and lack of
ongoing support for bilingual staff.
What do these numbers mean for the
City? They mean that departments
must increase their efforts to engage
immigrant and LEP communities.
When vulnerable communities are
afraid or reluctant to interact with City
departments, the health and safety of all
residents are impacted. With a decline
in points of contact, City departments
must take proactive measures and be
intentional in their outreach strategies
and
methodologies,
strategically
dedicating resources.
OCEIA has instituted a number
of programs and tools to assist
departments, including increased
trainings, toolkits, technical assistance
and consultations. The Community
Language Bank Pilot Program
was launched in FY 2019-2020 to
provide trained interpreters to assist
departments.
Numbers reported may include multiple interactions with the same client. Departments may be reporting
bilingual interactions of any duration, not just LEP interactions.