Breakout Room 4 Notes

Language Access Work Group

Notes from 

Meeting 2 Breakout Room 4

August 8, 2023

Breakout Room 4 Participants                                       Breakout Room 4 Facilitator

Agata Ianturina                                                                          Pakou Lee

Jennifer Price

Cindy Roat

James Wells

Sandy Yang

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

• Focus discussion on what the state can do regarding the certification or credentials process? (This seems to be the intent of the bill.)

• More interpreter training in general is needed, as it broader than what DSHS can do. Many required trainings (at least 40 hours) to take the test. This is to help pass the test. Training can be part of the package.

• Suggested options: state can invest in community college training in language access/resources. Many colleges offer programs but need to have enough people signed up to pay for the cost of the program. Can the state fund these programs? These programs have to be affordable and structured.

• Focus on practical solutions.

• Language access is vital.

• Which department does the testing of the actual second or third language that the interpreter is being tested in? How can we confirm that the person is speaking the language accurately?

• How do we know that we are hiring the right contracted interpreter? How can we confirm that they are converting from one language to the other correctly?

• Take into consideration that there are different sets of requirements for those who interpreted a long time in the past versus current time.

• We need to look more at language testing.

• One of the barriers is the certification piece. Update rules to permit others to become eligible for medical credential interpreter. DSHS LTC program and what they do.

• Can not serve all Afghan refugees as there are no interpreters within the collective bargaining arena – which is what we have to abide by.

• Allow a lesser level of credentials for those emergency situations, such as the Afghan situation -i.e., provide temporary credentials.

• Need more funding provided the LTC.