The resources included below are not necessarily endorsed by the U.S. Department of Justice or by the Federal Interagency Working Group on LEP.
Public Benefits and Child Welfare
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
FNS, Policy Memo CRD 01-2023, Ensuring Language Access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Individuals and Effective Communication for Individuals with Disabilities In Consideration of the Recent Unwinding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments (EA) and Upcoming Unwinding of COVID-19- Program Flexibilities. PDF version - May 30, 2023.
FNS, Policy Memo SP 37-2016, Meaningful Access for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the School Meal Programs, LEP Q&As (PDF)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps), Materials Available in 36 Non-English languages
National School Lunch Program, Translated Applications in 49 Languages
Reports and Guides
Report: Promising Practices for Ensuring Access to School Meals for Limited English Proficient Families, Food Research & Action Center
Food Stamp Bilingual Requirements, Welfare Law Center
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What are a TANF agency's obligations with regard to serving applicants and beneficiaries with limited English proficiency?, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
TANF-ACF-IM-2000-05 - Policy Guidance on the Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination as It Affects Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
The Application Process for TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and SCHIP. Use of Written Aides/Translation of Written Materials, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation - January 2003
The Application Process For TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and SCHIP. Chapter 6. The Language Dimension of Applying for Assistance: Strategies to Meet the Needs of Limited English Speakers, Urban Institute, 2003
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OCR Voluntary Resolution Agreement with the Arizona Department of Child Safety to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) are provided meaningful access to programs and activities. January 7, 2021 Press Release | December 18, 2020 Agreement
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OCR Addresses National Origin Discrimination in Alabama Child Welfare Programs- October 25, 2017, Agreement (archive) - August, 2017
Outreach to Families with Limited English Proficiency and Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families
Video: Civil Rights Laws: Implications for Persons with Limited English Proficiency and Persons with Disabilities in the Provision of Child Welfare Services (Part 1) , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights- June 29, 2017
State Child Care Policies for Limited English Proficient Families, The Center for Law and Social Policy - October 2012
Health Care
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- HHS Press Release - April 5, 2023
- HHS Letter to States - April 4, 2023
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- DOJ Press Release - July 29, 2022
- Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth: Federal Protections to Ensure Accessibility to People with Disabilities and Limited English Proficient Persons - July 29, 2022
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Interpreter Tool: Working With Interpreters in Clinical Settings, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Language Access Services Webinar for Wyoming Department of Health (3 Sessions), Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Session I: Language Assistance Services (Recording, Slides)- March 20, 2019
- Session II: Civil Rights and Language Access Planning (Recording, Slides) - April 17, 2019
- Session III: Beyond LEP: Effectively Communicating with Individuals with Disabilities (Recording, Slides) - May 22, 2019
- Sample LEP policy and procedure – OCR’s Sample LEP Policy and Procedure
National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National CLAS Standards), Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services- April 2013 (PDF Version)
Oral, Linguistic, and Culturally Competent Services Guides for Managed Care Plans, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Honing Cultural and Linguistic Competence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
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Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Limited English Proficiency in Health Care During COVID-19 (PDF), Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Español - May, 12, 2020
TeamSTEPPS® Enhancing Safety for Patients With Limited English Proficiency Module, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - March, 2013
Improving Patient Safety Systems for Patients With Limited English Proficiency: A Guide for Hospitals, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - September, 2012
A Patient-Centered Guide to Implementing Language Access Services in Healthcare Organizations, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - 2005
You Have the Right to an Interpreter Campaign, Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services, audio and text of transcript is available in 9 non-English languages
Joint Commission
- Quick Safety Issue 13: Overcoming the challenges of providing care to LEP patients - May 2015
- Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient-and Family-Centered Care A Roadmap for Hospitals (PDF) - 2010
National Senior Citizens Law Center
- Webinar: Language Access Issues in Social Security and Medicare - October 8, 2013
- Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities: Language Access Advocacy for Limited English Proficient Seniors- December 13, 2011
What's in a Word?: A Guide to Understanding Interpreting and Translation in Health Care, National Health Law Program, National Council on Interpreting in Health Care, and American Translators Association- 2010
Health Centers: Improving Health Care Access For Limited English Proficient Patients, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and the California Primary Care Association - March 2004
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, Voluntary Resolution Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services - December 19, 2019 [Agreement]
Enforcement Success Stories Involving Persons with Limited English Proficiency (archive), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
OCR launches national compliance review initiative, "Advancing Effective Communication in Critical Access Hospitals," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) (Report in PDF) - April, 2013
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Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Resources for Effective Communication, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
Language Access Resources and Publications, National Health Law Program
Symbol Usage In Health Care Settings for People with Limited English Proficiency (PDF), Hablamos Juntos, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - April, 2003