Supporting bilingual community health workers who facilitate access for linguistically diverse populations

As noted in the 2000 U.S. Census, the cultural and linguistic demographics of the United States are becoming increasingly diverse; this is true in Worcester, one of four federal refugee resettlement sites in Massachusetts. While ethnically and linguistically diverse immigrants and refugees face significant barriers in accessing and utilizing health and social services, community health workers (CHWs) (e.g., outreach workers, patient navigators, promotoras/es de salud) are fundamental in assisting clients/patients to obtain a wide range of services and bridging these barriers. In navigating the diverse service delivery systems, bilingual CHWs are often called upon to serve as interpreters for their clients needing to interface with providers who don't have the linguistic capacity to communicate with them in their language. Local CHWs and administrators in health and social service organizations have consistently identified the need for training of bilingual CHWs in the principles of interpretation to enhance their ability to render reliable linguistically and culturally responsive communication. Recognizing this need, Central Massachusetts Area Health Education Center, Inc (CM AHEC) implemented a pilot 30-hour didactic and skills based course specifically tailored for CHWs who serve in dual roles (i.e., CHW and interpreter). 25 local bilingual CHWs successfully completed the course. In this presentation, we will describe the core elements of the course (e.g., definition of the function of the CHW in the role of interpreter and the development of interpreting skills for effective communication) and we will share training outcomes and lessons learned to support CHWs in negotiating these complex roles.