by Paul Uyehara, Clearinghouse Review March/April 2003 - 030099
Abstract Number: 030099
May 2003
Paul Uyehara's article "Opening Our Doors to Language - Minority Clients" explores methods to ensure legal services providers are equipped to serve diverse populations with limited English proficiency (LEP). Drawing upon Uyehara's experiences working on the Language Access Project (LAP) with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, this article discusses recent demographic changes in the U.S. population and the increasing need and strategies for legal services providers to deliver high-quality services to LEP individuals. Uyehara begins by suggesting that programs undertake a needs assessment process which initially would entail comparing census data on the low-income, LEP population in a service area with the clients actually served to ascertain whether clients are being served equally regardless of English language ability. Uyehara goes onto suggest that adopting a LEP policy that effectively utilizes language resources, both bilingual staff and contractors, coupled with appropriate staff training and ongoing monitoring can greatly improve a program's accessibility to LEP communities. Uyehara concludes by pointing out that language capabilities are a first step for effectively serving diverse populations and that cultural differences are another barrier that programs must begin to address to ensure programs are fully access to their client community. Access the full article below as a PDF document.
Contact Information:
Paul Uyehara Community Legal Services 1424 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 Phone: (215) 981-3718 Fax: (215) 981-0436 Email
LSC:
America's Partner for Equal Justice 