Local Health Departments and Services for those with Limited English Proficiency

Effective communication is essential to delivery of public health. Local health departments (LHDs) are faced with the challenge of serving communities with ith increasingly varied English language skills. For example in 2006 in Connecticut about 20% of the population spoke a language other than English at home. Public health language services have not been examined as closely as those provided in medical care.

This project surveyed LHDs in Connecticut to evaluate the need for language services, the types of programs offered and the challenges to providing those services, with comparisons to the language demographics of their communities. The survey was conducted by the Language Services Committee of the Connecticut Multicultural Health Partnership, which is charged with developing a state plan to identify and address many aspects of health disparities.

The responding LHDs serve two-thirds of Connecticut residents. Encounters with people with limited English ability varied considerably, with one-third having weekly encounters and one-third having encounters less frequently than once a month, and reflected the variability in the Connecticut population. Spanish was the most common language encountered, followed by Chinese. Language services were offered most frequently for immunizations and emergency preparedness. The most common types of services were translation of educational materials and signs. Only a few LHDs had bilingual staff. When asked about the greatest need for language services, the greatest responses were for immunizations, disease surveillance and emergency preparedness. The LHDs report the primary barriers to extending language services as the high cost and lack of time.