In this free learning course, Switchboard teaches the fundamentals of working with an interpreter, including key terms, the role of an interpreter, and why it’s important to use an interpreter when working with families who have limited English proficiency. This course is intended for providers who are new to working with interpreters. The estimated time to complete this course is 30 minutes.
Resource: Working with Interpreters (part 1)
In this free learning course, Switchboard teaches providers strategies for overcoming common challenges when working with an interpreter, including preparing for an interpreted conversation, supporting interpreters during a conversation, and improving the quality of interactions. This course is intended for providers who have experience working with interpreters and families with limited English proficiency. Switchboard recommends completing part 1 “Working with Interpreters” before completing this training. The estimated time to complete this course is 20 minutes.
In this policy brief, the Migration Policy Institute and the Aspen Institute highlight the importance of building trust with newcomer families when providing services to both parents and children. This policy brief explores what it takes to build trust with newcomer families and the positive results that can come from inclusive programming. Strategies such as 1. hiring and retaining culturally competent staff and 2. creating welcoming spaces are explored in this brief.
Resource: Building Trust with Immigrant and Refugee Families
The Michigan Immigrant Rights Council developed a one-pager to explain 2024 changes to Michigan laws that ensure people with Limited English proficiency receive public services in a language they understand, free of charge. This law ensures everyone can engage with the State of Michigan with dignity, regardless of their English proficiency.
The National Association of County & City Health Officials developed a toolkit to support non-profit organizations in understanding, developing, and integrating trauma-informed strategies for working with newcomer communities. This toolkit includes detailed information on trauma within newcomer communities, principles of trauma-informed care, and assessment to guide organizational, program, and staff development.
Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services and the Office of Head Start partnered to develop a handbook for raising young children, aged 0-5, during resettlement in the U.S. This handbook is available in Arabic, English, and Spanish.
The Immigrant & Refugee Resource Collaborative created a global food preferences guide to support newcomer access to culturally-appropriate foods. The guide includes community specific guidance, common foods, and notes to support service providers.
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The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center developed a training to review state and federal language access laws, including rights to interpretation and translation for limited English proficiency recipients of state services. Federal and state complaint procedures are explained with links and contact information of presenters is provided on slide 28.
Michigan 2-1-1 partnered with the Office of Global Michigan to develop this Newcomer Resource Hub. 2-1-1 uses both bilingual resource specialists and a phone-based translation service to offer 2-1-1 information and referrals in over 180 languages. Newcomers in Michigan can now use this multi-lingual resource hub to text, chat, and search resources in their preferred language. Is your home visiting program included? Reach out to us if you need help adding your program to this new resource hub!
Resource: 2-1-1 Michigan Newcomer Resource Hub
The Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties developed this “I Speak” booklet to provide limited English Proficiency or speakers of other languages the ability to identify their preferred language. The booklet includes a chart of selected indigenous languages of Mexico at the end.
