Language Access Work Group
Self-Identified Participant List
The following list contains the results of participants’ answers to the Getting to Know You form which asked participants to provide answers to the following prompts:
- Please tell us your name and your title (if title is applicable).
- Please tell us what area of the community you represent in the work group.
- We are gathering to study potential approaches to certify interpreters in order to make recommendations to the Legislature. What is your primary interest around this topic?
Participants are listed in the order in which they filled out the form. Contact information is shown if a participant wrote to workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov and gave their permission.
If you have not yet had a chance to fill out the form, we encourage you to do so.
Anita Maguire, Operations Administrator
DSHS staff support
To support workgroup to establish recommendations.
Benjamin Lee, Project Analyst, DSHS
DSHS staff support
Improving equity and access around interpreter services with valuable and measurable input from key stakeholders; those receiving and delivering the services to the greater Washington State community.
Helen Eby, certified medical interpreter (Spanish), certified court interpreter (Washington, Spanish), certified ATA translator (English to and from Spanish)
Court interpreter services, Interpreters' union representative, Interpreter working in medical settings
Certification must reflect the needs of the LEP persons and the healthcare professionals who serve them.
Trish Lamb, L&I Talent Management Supervisor
State agency partner
L&I has been working to have a pool of certified interpreters within the agency. These individuals are agency employees that in addition to the duties of their position provide interpretive services as needed. This is in addition to being in a bilingual position and receiving the 5% bilingual assignment pay. Being the HR SME in bilingual employee requirements and assisting with our agencies efforts to provide internal interpreters, I am interested in this topic to ensure that L&I's efforts are in line with the recommendations.
Cindy Roat, MPH
cindy.roat@alumni.williams.edu
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers, Family with members who speak little or no English, Higher education, Interpreter working in medical settings, Professional with experience delivering interpreter certification services online
I am an interpreter trainer and consultant in language access in health care, and I am principally concerned with advancing the field of language access, assuring that LEP patients and the providers who serve them can communicate clearly. This requires the highest quality of interpreting reasonably possible within logistical and financial limitations. I have been in this field since the early 1990s, as interpreter, trainer, curriculum designer, organizer, and advocate.
Yun-Mei Wang Wilborn
Interpreter working in medical settings
I would like to see more resources (funding, personnel... etc.) provided to LTC to enable them to do their jobs.
Christina Mejia
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers, Interpreter working in medical settings
Testing
Nadia Damchii, Management Analyst 3
State business resource group
I would like to know more information about the language testing certification program.
Ruiqin Miao, PhD, Chief, Language Equity, DSHS
DSHS leadership
Efficient ways to certify medical interpreters.
Joana Ramos, Co-Chair, WASCLA Board of Directors, and Chair, WASCLA Healthcare Committee
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
WASCLA is an education and advocacy organization which works at the policy level to eliminate language barriers to essential services in Washington and nationally, through collaborative efforts. For over a decade, much of our work has focused on promoting the health and well-being of emerging bilingual state residents with limited English proficiency-- now at least 8% of our population -- and communication access to healthcare services is a top priority. We have long been involved in efforts to ensure not only that all public-serving programs and institutions, including DSHS and other state agencies, meet their responsibilities to provide language access, but also to ensure the availability of the well-qualified interpreter workforce critical for service delivery statewide and in a way which centers the needs of individuals with limited English proficiency. Our work draws on the personal and professional expertise of WASCLA leaders, including lived experience as immigrants and in immigrant-background families who have served as ad hoc interpreters; as healthcare interpreters with state and national credentials (plus as certified interpreters and translators in other disciplines); and as subject matter and policy experts who participate in state and national advisory bodies and organizations on health equity and interpreter services. We are committed to helping to inform and guide the next steps for the DSHS Language Testing and Certification program.
Jon Gould, Community Impact and Govt Relations
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
Languages of lesser demand
Carrie Huie, CAPAA Commissioner
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers, State commission
Quality interpreter and translation services to ensure accurate and successful communication.
Larysa House
Family with members who speak little or no English, Higher education, Interpreters' union representative, Interpreter working in medical settings
Interpreters/translators should become recognized, accepted and treated more as a highly professional and qualified job. It will require a college level degree as a basic required qualification in an interpreting service, or other accepted training or a degree in a similar related and associated field.
Quality of an interpretive professional service VS quantity of non-qualified people involved in interpreting.
Natalya Mytareva
Professional with experience delivering interpreter certification services online
medical interpreter certification
Eliana Lobo, Director Lobo Language Access
InterpreterTrainer@outlook.com
Family with members who speak little or no English, Higher education, Interpreter working in medical settings, Professional with experience delivering interpreter certification services online
Certification standards and implementation
Sherri Fujita, Dean of Instruction, Adult Education, Spokane Community College
Higher education
To see if there is a role for the community college in this project.
Patricia Alonzo, Vice President of Language Operations
Hospital or health center, Interpreter working in medical settings, Professional with experience delivering interpreter certification services online, State agency partner
The development of a structure for testing Washington State interpreters and ensure its timely so we don't lose qualified professionals in the field.
Roy Salonga
State agency partner, State business resource group
To expand more knowledge on this legislature
KaraLynn LaValley, Associate Dean of Nursing, Green River College
Higher education
Accessibility in Healthcare and Education
Lynora Hirata (she/her) DCYF Language Access Implementation Manager & Program Coordinator
Administrative Services Division
State agency partner
Improving Language Access Programming. Researching the development of WA specific and or Nationally applicable (basic level) certification that reflects: 1) 'transferable' skill sets in specific language and or dialect that is subject to renewal criteria; and 2) 'endorsement' specialization options that are sector specific (ie court, medication, social services, regulatory, etc) with partnership training w/ said WA State agency.
Elsie Rodriguez Paz, Program Manager, Interpreter Services / ADA Coordinator - South Sound, Quality Services
Elsie.RodriguezPaz@providence.org
Providence Swedish/Certified Court Interpreter
Court interpreter services, Family with members who speak little or no English; Hospital, or health center
Ensuring that Washington State continues to have a sustainable program that will continue to assess and qualify interpreter candidates who will serve our LEP/NES populations. The interpreter profession is a great career path for young persons with an interest in STEM, interpreter services training programs in community colleges that offer language learning, nursing programs have a built-in talent pool where potentially, for example: bilingual students taking nursing classes can take a 40 hour program interpreter training program(if it were offered by the community college), then take the certification exam - creating a program where nursing students can potentially work as qualified interpreters while they are in school. Promoting the medical interpreter profession for young bilingual students in high school at STEM college fairs for example. I would like stakeholders for health equity to explore the potential of tapping into pools of bilingual candidates at the community college level, to develop public/private partnerships to fund/promote said programs, and to develop the framework to leverage the skill sets of bilingual/multilingual students with an interest in careers in the medical field, particularly in communities with greatest need.
Milena Calderari-Waldron
Interpreters' union representative, Interpreter working in medical settings
Medical interpreter credentialing process.
Jennifer Price, Section Supervisor
State agency partner
impacts to the interpreter pool, impacts to the WFSE Interpreters United union
Theresa Powell, Senior Director, Office of Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion
DSHS leadership
Providing medical interpreter certification recommendations to the Legislature
Zenaida Rojas, Project Specialist II - Equity and Civil Rights Office / OSPI
Family with members who speak little or no English, State business resource group
Justice and Accessibility
Glorivette Rodriguez, Bilingual Family Advocate
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers, Family with members who speak little or no English
The quality service we are providing to our community and how to address barriers and create alternative ways to overcome them within the Latinx community.
James Wells, Court Interpreter Program Analyst
Court interpreter services, State commission
I coordinate the credentialing process for court interpreters in Washington. I have some experience in updating our testing processes and looking for alternatives. Many court interpreters are also DSHS interpreters, and many courts look to interpreters who have a DSHS certification when court certification is not available. Overall, I think the WA public sector needs more coordination and sharing of resources for all of us to be successful in providing language access. I also help staff at the Interpreter and Language Access Commission, which oversees court interpreters’ policy in WA.
Gabrielle Bachmeier, Dean Workforce Partnerships & Extended Learning at Highline College
Higher education
Looking at how higher education can support the training and certification of interpreters.
Liz Baxter, CEO
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
We are supporting access through funding to Skagit Valley College to increase the number of people who complete interpreter training programs, specifically working to eliminate the use of limited language proficiency as a frame, replacing it with seeing multi-language skills as an asset in the community that we should grow and invest in.
Tara Bostock, Equitable Access Manager
State agency partner
I work at a state agency who contracts with interpreters.
Shelby Lambdin, Health Equity Director at CHAS Health
Hospital or health center
To identify and inform areas that the legislature can support capacity building for the medical interpreter workforce on the east side of the state with a particular interest in the certification process for the Marshallese language.
Casey Peplow, Bilingual Client Advocate
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
Language access and equity are central to the work I'm doing in my community, and as a member of our political advocacy team I am interested in the implementation processes following a legislative session.
Helen Marge Henera, LTC Program Manager
DSHS staff support
Support the work group to gather the recommendations to certify medical interpreters.
Michael Woo, Social Worker
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
Awareness and accessibility
Mateo Rutherford, Chair CCHI Commission
Higher education, Interpreter working in medical settings, Professional with experience delivering interpreter certification services online
Accredited Certification Processes
Luisa Gracia, Strategic Advisor II
Court interpreter services, State agency partner
Quality interpretation. Test should be handled by a non-private organization.
Sandy M. Yang
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
Ensuring all persons have access to good quality interpreter services when accessing services.
Fidelie Nawej, Refugee Health Program Manager
Hospital or health center, Interpreter working in medical settings
Learn more about this topic and how we can improve our interpretation services at HealthPoint.
Jarrod Irvin, DES Accessibility Manager
State agency partner
To ensure DES is providing the language access resources to meet our state's needs.
Marguerite Friedlander, Administrator, Hearings and Interviews, DOL
State agency partner
My agency is struggling with the interpreter shortage (especially court certified interpreters), and my hearings examiners conduct proceedings addressing medical issues. We are interested in discussing and working toward a sufficient interpreter pool for all agencies so that we do not have to compete against each other for talent.
Agata Ianturina
Community-based organization supporting families with language access barriers
Helping members of the Russian speaking community.
Rebecca Saldaña, Senate Democratic Caucus representative
Legislator
Washington State to be known nationally for our best practices for providing quality, accessible language interpretation for residents accessing health care, medical services, and all interactions with state agency services and our democratic institutions. Interpreters in Washington have dignity in their workplace so they can provide their professional expertise.
Morgan Olson, DSHS PEAR Specialist
DSHS staff support
I am interested in investigating our processes and how we can make interpretation more accessible and equitable.
Leroy Mould
Interpreters' union representative;Interpreter working in medical settings
Certification of medical interpreters should be to maintain a high level of quality candidates and not just to maintain an acceptable pool number of interpreters. The program should be flexible enough to address the ebb and flow of demand for all languages so that all clients, regardless of which language they speak, may be served.
Tony Griego, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager
State agency partner
I am interested in growing the pool or inventory of high quality language service providers available in Washington State. Creating a sustainable system that supports language services and interpretation as a long term career with a livable wage. I'm interested in pursuing an approach that is inclusive and includes input and buy in from impacted communities.
Yvonne Simpson, Senior Director of Language Access and Cultural Advocacy, UW Medicine
Hospital or health center
Use of validated, reliable exams
Carolyn Eslick, Republican House Representative
Legislator
I was appointed to this committee by Speaker Laurie Jenkins.
Aranza Granrose, HCA Language Access Coordinator
State agency partner
As the HCA LAC, my primary interest is to be a good thought partner for DSHS as a representative of one of your sister agencies and to ensure that an adequate pool of interpreters is available to serve our clients and our community.
Zugey Garcia, L&I Multilingual Services Program Manager
State agency partner
L&I assists medical providers in identifying certified medical interpreters, to provide language access services, when providers are treating workers covered under worker's compensation.