Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for December 9 to December 22

Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information.

Banks Go Multilingual In War Against Foreclosures:

A recent survey by the California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC), reports that more could be done to keep families in their homes, citing that language barriers are leading to foreclosures that might have been prevented if limited-English speaking homeowners were better informed of options.

Similar research from around the country shows the same conclusions. To help financial institutions save mortgages, increase dept collection and assist their limited-English speaking customers with more favorable payment terms, Language Line Services has launched Language Line Direct Connect, a turn-key outbound and inbound mortgage counseling and debt collection service available in more 170 unique languages.

For more information about this new product and/or the overall impact of language barriers on the credit crisis contact Jeanine Karp at 305-448-3754 or jeanine.karp@rbbpr.com.

Fighting for Language Access in Governmental Services:

An appeal was filed on Thursday with the Tennessee Supreme Court seeking to stop the special election requiring governmental services to be provided in English Only in Nashville Tennessee.

The essential questions raised in the appeal are whether the English-only proposal is constitutional and whether a court can stop an unconstitutional measure from being put to voters.

Language Line Services works with first responders, healthcare, emergency, and government personnel nationwide to provide language assistance in all languages. A Language Line Services representative is available to discuss how municipalities around the country handle communications with the growing non-English community. 

For more information contact Tracy Belcher at 305-445-7043 or tracy.belcher@rbbpr.com.

Language Barrier Leads to Federal Charges:

A federal court in Mobile, Alabama acquitted a, Jun Ming "Jimmy" Li, a Chinese immigrant of attempting to bribe a customs officer after the defendant’s attorney argued that the limited English speaker did not understand the customs official.  Li, who was attempting to retrieve a shipment from customs, misunderstood that he needed to pay a duty on the shipment; when Li offered an amount to destroy the shipment (a legal alternative to paying the duty), the customs official mistook the amount as a bribe. 

One way that this situation could have been avoided would be through the use of interpreters to assist customs officials.  Language Line Services works with government offices and courts to ensure that all limited English persons receive the language assistance they need in any given situation.  A Language Line representative is available to discuss the importance of providing language assistance in order to avoid situations like Li’s. 

For more information contact Julie Jimenez at 305-461-5794 or julie.jimenez@rbbpr.com.   

Online Registry of Medical Interpreters is an Industry Milestone:

Hospitals, healthcare organizations, interpreters and researchers have access to a new free online resource for identifying professional medical interpreters and reviewing their language skills and credentials.

Located online at www.ircmi.org, the “International Registry of Certified Medical Interpreters” is the first comprehensive, global industry resource of its kind that goes a long way to protect patient safety by ensuring only qualified interpreters are helping providers communicate with limited English proficient patients.

The registry is funded by a grant through Language Line University, a globally recognized interpreter testing, training and certification division of Language Line Services. For more information on the registry or to schedule an interview with a Language Line Services spokesperson, please contact Shawn Yanan at 305-962-1768 or at shawn.yanan@rbbpr.com.

Access to Care Among Recent Hispanic Immigrants:

A study published in the November 2008 edition of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, entitled "Strangers in a Strange Land: Health Care Experiences for Recent Latino Immigrants in Midwest Communities", examined the perceptions of access to health care among recent Hispanic immigrants in southeast Michigan.

The study analyzed respondents' assessments of their own health status, social and health needs, use of health care services, barriers to care and strategies they used to address such barriers, and ways they believe are best to address immigrants' health needs.

Study participants identified lack of health insurance, language and isolation as barriers to care. To overcome such barriers, immigrants adopted payment plans, used community members as resources, requested the use of an interpreter or used another strategy.

A Language Line Services representative is available to comment on the important role of medical interpreters in healthcare delivery and the need for ongoing outreach to immigrant communities about available language resources. For more information, contact Shawn Yanan at 305-962-1768 or at shawn.yanan@rbbpr.com.

ABOUT LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English speakers.

The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning translation, transcription, phone and video interpretation, interpreter certification, localization and localized software and devices, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language.

Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services provides support for more than 170 languages to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including health care, financial services, government, telecom, manufacturing, insurance, entertainment, travel, and more.

For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multi-cultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, please call 1-800-752-6096 or visit www.LanguageLine.com.