Service Providers |
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About Translation & Interpreter Network |
Catholic Charities, with funding from the Texas Department of Health, has established a network of interpreters to improve client access to health care, immigration and social services in both Dallas and Tarrant Counties. A pool of linguistically and culturally diverse staff that is fluent in English and at least one other language has been established to serve the community. |
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About the Interpreters |
Besides being fluent in at least two languages, interpreters must attend a three-day training course which is offered several times during the year at locations throughout the DFW Metroplex. The program also offers on-going training to all interpreters in the network. Interpreters work on a contract basis and are paid for all hours worked according to an established fee schedule. |
Coordinating with Other Service Providers |
Since all health care, immigration and social service providers who receive funding from the federal government are required by law to provide an interpreter for any client who does not understand English, the network's services meet a significant need. Service providers can call the network to schedule interpreters who can communicate with non-English speaking clients during set appointment times. Service providers are charged a minimal hourly fee for the services of a trained intepreter. Network personnel are also available to provide free on-site training for the service provider's staff on how to most effectively use an interpreter. |
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Service Providers |
Translation & Interpreter Network can provide your organization with professional, trained interpreters for a variety of languages. Our fee structure is as follows: $40 per hour if appointment is made more than 24 hours in advance $45 per hour if appointment is made less than 24 hours in advance $35 per hour if agency is contracted to use at least 20 hours of interpreting services per month, 24 hours advanced notice $38 per hour if agency is contracted to use at least 20 hours of interpreting services per month, less than 24 hours advanced notice A two hour minimum applies to all appointments. After the first two hours, charges will be based on increments of 15 minutes. Any cancellations must be made at least 4 business hours in advance to avoid being charged for the appointment. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Fees |
Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that No person in the United States shall, on ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Any service provider that receives Medicare, Medicaid, federal grants or other federal funding are subject to Title VI. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights maintains that a lack of interpreters impedes linguistic minorities from gaining equal acces to health care and other services under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Office of Civil Rights has stated that A recipient of federal financial assistance that is unable to communicate with a substantial LEP [limited English proficient] population in its service area would effectively subject that population to discrimination based on national origin. To avoid such discrimination against LEP persons, a recipient must assume the responsibility for providing bilingual staff or interpreters. The Office of Civil Rights has also addressed the need for qualified interpeters: Using an interpreter whose skill level is unknown to the recipient of federal funds or who is unqualified (often the case with family members or friends of the limited English proficient person), is usually acceptable only in situations where a high degree of accuracy, objectivity, or privacy is not essential. Interpretation is considered an "essential" rather than an "additional" service, and therefore must be provided without charge to the client. The courts and regional branches of the Office of Civil Rights have settled more than one hundred such complaints, particularly against health care institutions, by requiring that interpreter services be provided. |
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Legal Considerations for Providing a Qualified Interpreter |
Languages Currently Available |
Czech Farsi French Kurdish Laotian Lingala Macedonian |
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Albanian Amharic Arabic Assyrian Bosnian Bulgarian Cambodian |
Mandarin Chinese Oromo Portuguese Russian Serbo-Croatian Somali Spanish |
Swahili Taiwanese Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese |