Agenda Item Name:
Title
American Rescue Plan - State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Alachua County Language Access Proposal
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Presenter:
Diedre Houchen, Equity and Community Outreach Manager
Description:
GINI Language Access Proposal
Building the Language Access Infrastructure of Alachua County Services for Limited English Proficient Speakers (LEP): An Equity Response to Disparities Experienced During COVID
The following strategies are recommended to build inclusion of LEP speakers into the Alachua County community:
A. Establishment of an Immigrant Liaison position
B. Development and Implementation of an Alachua County Language Access Plan
C. County Language Line and Hands-On Training of all County employees
D. Translation of Vital County-driven Information
E. County signage in multiple languages
F. Funding of an Immigrant Neighbor Guide
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the ARPA proposal and budget amendment for the implementation of the proposal to build a language access system that allows residents who are limited English speakers equitable access to critical information and services which the County offers, facilitates or partners in.
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Prior Board Motions:
None
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Request for ARPA-SLFRF, estimated budget of $875,000 over 3 years. The Immigrant Liaison position will be a limited term appointment subject to available project funds.
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Social and Economic Opportunity
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Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed inequities in information and services to non-English speakers. The following data supports the need to respond to those County residents who speak languages other than English. Data comes from the US Census <https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/alachuacountyflorida>, World Population Review <https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/gainesville-fl-population>.com, School Board of Alachua County and the Rural Women’s Health Project (RWHP):
● 37,719 speakers of languages other than English who reside in Alachua County (14% of the population)
● 7.5% Spanish speakers (ages 18-64)
● 4% speak Asian or Pacific Island languages
● According to the School Board of Alachua County, <https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://fl02219191.schoolwires.net//cms/lib/FL02219191/Centricity/Domain/7040/ESOL+Graphs+-+Google+Docs.pdf> there are 800 non-English speaking children in Alachua schools, 80+ families in migrant education with monolingual Spanish or indigenous speaking parents and 80 Spanish-speaking out of school youth served by Migrant Education.
● 30% of Hispanics live below poverty level, 24% of Asians, 34% Pacific Islanders compared to 16% White, and 30% Black.
● 521 recipients of Spanish language messaging through the Rural Women’s Health Project in Alachua County are monolingual Spanish Speakers.
● The Combined Communications Center received 397 requests for language translation assistance between September 2020 and April 2021. The majority were Spanish speakers followed by Mandarin, Vietnamese and Tagalog.
The local Salir Adelante survey of Latinas found that the leading barriers for Latinx immigrant women accessing health-protective services included: immigration stressors, access to health resources, and employment. Participants identified insurance status, English proficiency, and discrimination as barriers to health and social services. (Source: RWHP, Salir Adelante, 2020)
By adopting the project, as proposed in the attached plan, the County will be supporting, elevating and amplify the needs, inclusions and communications to those in the community who speak languages other than English. If approved, the County is determining that the language access program is an eligible use of the federal ARPA funding.