Language Access Work Group
Notes from
Meeting 2 Breakout Room 3
August 8, 2023
Breakout Room 3 Participants Breakout Room 3 Facilitator
Milena Calderari-Waldron Sharon Armstrong
Sherri Fujita
Jarrod Irvin
Zenaida Rojas
Radu Smintina
Yun-Mei Wang Wilborn
Homework: In what ways can the State of Washington support having more qualified medical interpreters?
- Please see Information Sheet: Preliminary Elements of Medical Interpreter Testing and Certification for examples as well as preliminary elements of medical interpreter testing and certification to be considered in a recommendation
- Participants are encouraged to use the Language Access Work Group: Draft Recommendations Form, which includes elements from the Information Sheet, as they draft their recommendations
- DSHS should resume testing; works well, has more interpreters.
- Propose update of current test ($75).
- CCHI testing boards; currently used. Expensive but valid.
- DSHS is not losing money by testing.
- Job task analysis to find out how much has changed since 1995 with interpreter work to update test.
- Making sure we have access to education so people can prepare and pass.
- Free or low-cost tests.
- Clarification question about DSHS no longer testing?? Other certifications too expensive?
- Higher authority requiring certain testing entities? If not, state could create cost effective test.
- Evidence-based practices necessary? CCHI testing validity a necessary standard?
- Make sure our requirements are not more stringent than necessary.
- Authentic verbal and action support; reduce intimidation factor.
- Expanding beyond the five primary languages.
- Should stick with state standards of language translation options.
- Authentic conversations with diverse communities.