NEWS
Friday - Jan. 19, 2024
DSHS convened the Language Access Work Group in accordance with Substitute Senate Bill 5304 to create recommendations for medical interpreter testing and certification policies and programs. Accordingly, six 90-minute meetings took place between July 25, 2023, and Oct. 3, 2023.
Following a mandatory review of the draft report by the Washington State Office of Financial Management, DSHS submitted the final report to the Legislature on 1/19/2024. The report presents the valuable insights and feedback that each work group participant contributed during the time allotted by the bill.
With the submission of the final report to the Legislature, the work of the Language Access Work Group has concluded, and no further updates will be made to this website.
Meetings
This section contains overviews of the topics that were covered in each of the work group's meetings. Including agendas, notes, recordings, chat logs and resources.
- July 25 Meeting
Language Access Work Group - Meeting 1 of 6
July 25, 2023
AGENDA
Overview
Welcome and introductions; SSB5304 purpose, scope and goals; small group discussion; homework assignment; next steps
Welcome, agenda review and technology orientation
Anita Maguire Zoom Support Staff introductions
Ben Lee, Tony Rice Breakout Room explanation
Anita Maguire Breakout Room Facilitator introductions
Sharon Armstrong, Adolfo Capestany, Herminia Esqueda, Stacii McKeon Brief self-introductions
Participants Community agreements
Anita Maguire Project Manager introduced and provided explanation of the work group’s unifying focus
Malia Wallace-Mello Breakout Room discussions
Breakout Room Facilitators and Participants Breakout Room discussion recap
Breakout Room Facilitators Conclusion and next steps
Anita Maguire RESOURCES
- Main Room
- Notes from Breakout Room 1 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 2 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 3 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 4 (PDF)
UPCOMING
- DSHS needs your help to prepare. If you have not confirmed your availability for each of the remaining dates, please do so as soon as possible. Only those participants who have written to Malia Wallace-Mello at workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov and let her know which remaining dates they can and cannot attend, will be admitted into future meetings.
- Complete Getting to Know You form.
- Homework Assignment: Please come to Meeting 2 prepared to discuss the question, "In what ways can the State of Washington support having more qualified medical interpreters?"
- Please see Information Sheet: Preliminary Elements of Medical Interpreter Testing and Certification for examples as well as preliminary elements of medical interpreter testing and certification to be considered in a recommendation
- Participants may share their draft recommendations either by using the Draft Recommendations Google form, or by emailing their draft to workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov. If you decide to submit using the Google form, you will have a better experience if you are signed in to Google
- Aug. 8 Meeting
Language Access Work Group - Meeting 2 of 6
August 8, 2023
AGENDA
Overview
Review assignment and small group discussion
Agenda review Anita Maguire Brief self-introductions by participants not yet introduced Participants Community agreements review Anita Maguire Consolidated highlights from the last meeting’s breakout room discussions Malia Wallace-Mello Discuss homework assignment in breakout rooms Participants Breakout Room discussion recap Breakout Room Facilitators Conclusion and next steps Anita Maguire RESOURCES
- Main Room
- Notes from Breakout Room 1 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 2 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 3 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 4 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 5 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 6 (PDF)
UPCOMING/HOMEWORK
To prepare for the August 22 meeting, please complete the following tasks:
- Read the Preliminary Elements of Medical Interpreter Testing and Certification document,
- Submit your draft recommendations using either the Draft Recommendations Google form, or by email to workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov. If you decide to submit using the Google form, you will have a better experience if you are signed in to Google,
- Complete the Getting to Know You form that is linked on the SSB 5304 Language Access Work Group website, if you haven’t done so already. Information from that form is provided on the Language Access Work Group Participants page. Please email Malia at workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov if you would like to have your contact information shared on the participant list, and
- Check out the resource documents and updates on the SSB 5304 Language Access Work Group site.
- Aug. 22 Meeting
Language Access Work Group - Meeting 3 of 6
Aug. 22, 2023
AGENDA
Overview
Review assignment and small group discussion
Agenda review
Thanh Trần
Community agreements review
Thanh Trần Consolidated highlights from the last meeting’s breakout room discussions
Helen Henera Discuss homework assignment in breakout rooms
Thanh Trần Breakout Room discussion recap
Breakout Room Facilitators Conclusion and next steps
Thanh Trần RESOURCES
- Main Room
- Notes from Breakout Room 1 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 2 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 3 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 4 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 5 (PDF)
UPCOMING
In preparation for the September 5 meeting, participants are asked to:
- Read the Preliminary Elements of Medical Interpreter Testing & Certification information sheet, focusing particular attention on the last two main components from that document: tests and resources to support clients and healthcare providers, and
- Submit their draft recommendation, or updates to any previous submission, by completing the Draft Recommendations Google form or by emailing workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov.
- Sept. 5 Meeting
Language Access Work Group - Meeting 4 of 6
Sept. 5, 2023
AGENDA
Overview
Review assignment and small group discussion
Welcome and agenda review
Anita Maguire Call attention to community agreements
Anita Maguire Consolidated highlights from the last meeting's breakout room discussions
Anita Maguire Discuss homework assignment in breakout rooms
Participants Breakout Room discussion recap
Breakout Room Facilitators Conclusion and next steps
Anita Maguire RESOURCES
- Main Room
- Notes from Breakout Room 1 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 2 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 3 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 4 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 5 (PDF)
UPCOMING
In preparation for the September 19 meeting, participants are asked to make recommendations necessary to support language access and interpretive services that include:
- Strategies for increasing access to language access providers in rural communities and for languages of lesser demand,
- Strategies for workforce resiliency including adequate workload and compensation, and
- Standards of ethics and professional responsibility.
Please submit your recommendations via email to workgroupssb5304@dshs.wa.gov. Participants' submissions will be posted on the Draft Recommendations page for all to read and reflect on.
- Sept. 19 Meeting
Language Access Work Group - Meeting 5 of 6
Sept. 19, 2023
AGENDA
Overview
Review assignment and small group discussion
Welcome and agenda review
Anita Maguire Call attention to community agreements
Anita Maguire Informational update
Theresa Powell Breakout room discussions
Breakout Room Facilitators and Participants Breakout Room discussion recap
Breakout Room Facilitators Homework for Meeting 6 Malia Wallace-Mello Conclusion and next steps
Anita Maguire RESOURCES
- Main Room
- Notes from Breakout Room 1 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 2 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 3 (PDF)
- Notes from Breakout Room 4 (PDF)
UPCOMING
To prepare for the sixth and final meeting of the Language Access Work Group, which will be held from 10:30am-12:00pm on Tuesday, October 3, please:
- Review Table One and Table Two on the Draft Options page and decide which interpretive service certification programs you think work best for Washington State.
- Be prepared to discuss your recommendations during the October 3 meeting. Following the discussions, we will ask you to take an online poll to rank the options. The top recommendations from the poll will be shared in the final report to the legislature.
- Oct. 3 Meeting
Language Access Work Group - Meeting 6 of 6
Oct. 3, 2023
AGENDA
Overview
Review assignment and small group discussion; review the content for draft report; confirm public comment dates
Welcome and agenda review
Anita Maguire Call attention to community agreements
Anita Maguire Share preferred options and reasoning for preferences
Participants Review content for the final report and next steps
Malia Wallace-Mello Conclusion
Anita Maguire RESOURCES
Meeting 6 Participants
- Tara Bostock
- Milena Calderari-Waldron
- Vicky Chan
- Faye Chien
- Helen Eby
- Rep. Carolyn Eslick
- Rep. Darya Farivar
- Zugey García
- Luisa Gracia
- Aranzazu Granrose
- Carolina Gutierez
- Lynora Hirata
- Larysa House
- Carrie Huie-Pascua
- Jarrod Irvin
- Christina Labra
- Trish Lamb
- Eliana Lobo
- Ruiqin Miao, PhD
- Leroy Mould
- Natalya Mytareva
- Gustavo Negrete
- Hugo Nuñez
- Olga Okhapkina
- Casey Peplow
- Jennifer Price
- Joana Ramos
- Cindy Roat
- Elsie Rodriguez Pas
- Zenaida Rojas
- María Sigüenza
- Yvonne Simpson
- Elena Vasiliev
- Yun-Mei Wang Wilborn
- James Wells
- Michael Woo
- Antoinette Wynne
Meeting 6 DSHS Support Staff
- Benjamin Lee, Zoom Host
- Anita Maguire, Main Room Facilitator
- Malia Wallace-Mello, Project Manager
WELCOME AND AGENDA REVIEW
The Main Room Facilitator introduced herself and the Zoom Host. She then gave a quick recap of the agenda.
COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS
The Main Room Facilitator held space for self-review of the Community Agreements established during the first meeting:
- Respect each other in action and speech.
- Stay present.
- Listen with an open mind.
- Arrive prepared and ready to engage.
- Consider your thoughts before speaking.
- Honesty in all communication.
- Contribute from your lived experience.
- Clarify to avoid assumptions.
- Plain speak as much as possible.
- Avoid acronyms and complications.
- Ask questions out of curiosity.
- Use specific and, whenever possible, share brief examples for clarity.
- Be open to different cultural and linguistic modes of expression.
- Respectful disagreement is ok.
Participants were thanked for accepting these agreements and for holding themselves accountable to them as the group works together to develop understanding and propose recommendations.
SHARE PREFERRED OPTIONS AND REASONING FOR PREFERENCES
In preparation for this meeting, participants were asked to review the Draft Options for State of Washington Medical Interpreter Testing and Certification and come prepared to discuss which programs work best for Washington State and to vote on the options by ranking them. Because this was a working document, the draft options ended up getting revised several times before the vote.
On September 19, during Meeting 5 of the work group, Version 1 of the Draft Options document was shared with participants. After receiving participant feedback following that meeting, the working document was updated and a link to Version 2 of the Draft Options was emailed to participants on September 20. Following feedback from state agencies, the document was again updated, and a link to Version 3 was emailed to participants on September 22. It was this version that was generally commented on during Meeting 6. (Following participant feedback during Meeting 6, the document was updated again. Version 4 of the options is what participants used to vote on.)
During the meeting, each participant was given the opportunity to share their preferred options and reasoning for their preferences with the entire group. Some participants chose to pass when their name was called. Others shared their opinion on a range of topics, including the options and the process.
The following table shows the status, response, and/or comments from each participant:
Full Name Status/Response/Comments Fatma Abdinasir Absent Farhiyo Ahmed Absent Anita Ahumada Absent Angela Araque Absent Gabrielle Bachmeier Absent Liz Baxter Absent Lorna Bien Absent Gwendolyn Cash-James, EdD Absent Carolyn Cole, Esq. Absent Nadia Damchii Absent Jessie DeWoody Absent Marguerite Friedlander, Esq. Absent Sherri Fujita Absent JoAnna Gaffney Absent Jon Gould Absent Tony Griego Absent Agata Ianturina Absent Teddy Kemirembe Absent Shelby Lambdin Absent Elena Langdon Absent Emily Lardner, EdD Absent KaraLynn, PhD Absent Fidelie Nawaj Absent Lauren Platt Absent Christina Pourarien Absent Theresa Powell Absent Glorivette Rodriguez Absent John Rogers Absent Matteo Rutherford Absent Elena Safaraints Absent Sen. Rebecca Saldaña Absent Roy Salonga Absent Manny Santiago Absent Radu Smintina Absent Quan Trần Absent Rokiah Vansot Absent Daniel(le) Vasquez Absent Cathy Vue Absent Sandy Yang Absent Grace Yoo Absent Natalya Mytareva Abstain. Option 1 – Representing CCHI; an efficient pathway to assess competency of interpreters regardless of training. Option 4 – Connecting with partners to create CE training Natalya Mytareva Abstain. Option 1 – Representing CCHI; an efficient pathway to assess competency of interpreters regardless of training. Option 4 – Connecting with partners to create CE training Gustavo Negrete Abstain – Representing NBCMI Gustavo Negrete Abstain – Representing NBCMI Faye Chien Pass Rep. Carolyn Eslick Pass Rep. Darya Farivar Pass Aranzazu Granrose Pass Carolina Gutierrez Pass Leroy Mould Pass Casey Peplow Pass Jennifer Price Pass Elena Vasiliev Pass Tara Bostock Pass – To share time for other participants; raising awareness and certification for indigenous languages
“What will replace the ‘blanks’ or ‘No’s’ in the table, i.e. under Test Prep Training?”
DSHS; Ruiqin Miao, PhD Dr. Ruiqin Miao of DSHS response to Tara:
“Thank you for raising this question. As we know this work group is only several months and we have to submit a report based on that timeline. These options are a very general vision. These are specific details to consider further, once the Legislature will select the general options that serve Washington State best.”
Milena Calderari-Waldron Pass – To reach consensus with Interpreters United (WFSE)
Interpreter’s United (Labor Union)
“I want to understand that the process of voting is correct. DSHS solicited draft recommendations from the work group participants, posted on the website, and in parallel, DSHS drafted it’s own recommendations. Is this correct?”
DSHS; Ruiqin Miao, PhD Dr. Ruiqin Miao of DSHS response to Milena:
“Thank you for Union’s input and suggested recommendations, that we received yesterday, that this was too late to incorporate into the Options Table posed on the website for today. The Union’s input will certainly be included in the report to the Legislature.”
Helen Eby Pass – Stated a need to reach consensus with fellow Interpreters United (WFSE) members. Addressed that the option for DSHS to continue medical interpreter testing was missing from the options table. Luisa Gracia Pass - Addressed that the option for DSHS to continue medical interpreter testing was missing from the options table. Larysa House Pass – To confer with team/colleagues Carrie Huie-Pascua Pass – To confer with team/colleagues Eliana Lobo Pass – Abstain on basis of consensus not reached. Open to working with community colleges
“Personally, I would recommend Option 1 that include partnering with community colleges. Considering partnering, would work with one class through multiple college venues, simultaneously online. To qualify and justify the courses, needing a cross platform solution to maintain seats and the class.
Ruiqin Miao, PhD Pass – To confer with DSHS Team
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Miao replied to participants’ comments. Please see her replies to comments throughout this table. Additionally, when she was called on to provide input on the options, Dr. Miao took some time to address questions from participants.
Dr. Miao stated that she would pass on sharing her opinions for the options, but shared her primary position that a solution generally be based on a system of testing that is efficient, sustainable, and has quality tests (well developed, reliable, and approved) through national third-party providers and community colleges.
In response to an observation that the recommendation to the legislature should include the option for DSHS to restart its medical interpreter testing program, Dr. Miao said that using medical interpreter testing is neither sustainable nor efficient. Certifying interpreters with seriously outdated, 30-year-old tests would not result in being confident of the quality.
If DSHS continues with manual testing, there would be a long wait for a spot. There are well established professional entities that maintain and update, through both online and remote testing systems, that can do this. In-person testing is not efficient.
According to the fiscal note from Senate Bill 5304, it costs the state a lot of money to redevelop valid and reliable medical interpreter tests for the whole state. Whether through community colleges or third-party providers, if we can ensure that the testing system is convenient for candidates, to address the increasing needs of the State, it will be a good goal for Washington State.
Joana Ramos Pass – Representing WASCLA; to recommend interim solutions and convey observations Yvonne Simpson Pass – Stating a position of support for national certification. Made a note of concern for how current DSHS certification and certified interpreters might be lost in the transfer to third-party entities and not be able to maintain their certification. She held that separating community colleges as only being the training party and not conducting the testing, is appropriate She addressed that Option 5 and the focus of this work group has only been on medical interpreting. James Wells Pass – Interim vs long-term solutions. State needs to invest heavily into language access and coordinate around training Michael Woo Pass María Sigüenza Option – Noted that an ideally, testing is pulled out of DSHS and housed in a state centralized office. Testing to be more democratic with greater needs, in its own entity. She took issue with not including DSHS to continue medical interpreter testing in the options table and suggested a minority report be included. Vicky Chan Option 1 – Convenient certifying body for interpreter certification with focus on test and certify Olga Okhapkina Option 1 – Need opportunities for partnership Cindy Roat Option 1 – Caveat; Option 1.5+
“I am concerned about the difference between people who are getting certified now and those who are trying to maintain their certification. Some options may work really well for one, but not address the other. I want to make sure the Legislature take this into account. What would you recommend, when ranking these options and should I include in my comments?”
DSHS; Ruiqin Miao, PhD Dr. Miao of DSHS response to Cindy:
“To maintain DSHS certification – These options are for testing to certify going forward, with currently certified interpreters in the State. No matter what Washington State decides, DSHS will ensure a smooth transition of data to a new testing entity or if DSHS continues to maintain the roster in Gateway.”
Elsie Rodriguez Paz Option 1 – Option 1.5+ Resume testing that qualify interpreters to provide patient care and involve community colleges that is sustainable. Option 5 – Ideal but unrealistic, a system that involves Community Colleges Zugey García Option 2 – L&I for partnerships. Requested clarification regarding the timeline for the report and tally of poll results. The Project Manager confirmed the timeline and the process. Trisha Lamb Option 2 – L&I partnerships Hugo Nuñez Option 2 Zenaida ‘Z’ Rojas Option 2 – Diversity of CC’s. Authentically communicating cultural humility and quality of interpretation Yun-Mei Wang Wilborn Option 2 & Option 5 – Focus on continuing education from DSHS. Highlighted need on medical terminology Jarrod Irvin Option 4 – Support and to confer with the team Lynora Hirata Option 5 – To confer with team Cristina Labra Option 5 – Most comprehensive, though unrealistic while most ideal. Option 1 – Most realistic, but not ideal. Pass – To confer with team Antoinette Wynne Option 2 & Option 4 – To include expectations of LTC and authorize interpreters to be trained through accredited programs, similar to CC. Option 1 – May not be viable. DES contracts are for eligible entities. She stated that Option 1 would require purchasers to be the individual/independent interpreters themselves, with contractors and this changes authority around statewide contract use. Testing and services delivered from the contractors under this option may constitute a potential conflict of interest. Keeping everything separate, testing the interpreters and providing the service from statewide contracts. All interpreters used by DES are asked to meet skills of industry standards and to be in the expectation of the DSHS Language and Testing Certification program, along with training at higher education institutes. Approving the extension of Option 2 or Option 4. Need to define what a statewide contract. REVIEW CONTENT FOR THE FINAL REPORT AND NEXT STEPS
The Project Manager shared her screen to show the poll that participants would use to rank the options. She explained how to fill out the poll. She also showed where on the Language Access Work Group website people could find the poll results, which would be posted no later than 5:00pm on Friday, October 6.
Considering that Antoinette Wynne of DES raised a concern that Option 1 may not be viable, participants asked if the Options table would be updated for the poll. Some participants continued to state their preference that the option for DSHS to resume testing be added to the vote. Dr. Miao noted that if the legislature wanted DSHS to continue medical interpreter testing, then Senate Bill 5304 would have passed. That option is not viable, so Substitute Senate Bill 5304 was created. SSB5304 mandated DSHS to convene a work group to find other viable options. Dr. Miao announced that if the options table were to be revised, the updated version would be shared with participants by 2:00pm the same day (Tuesday, October 3, 2023).
The Project Manager then showed the Proposed Process Timeline and shared the basic content of the final report.
CONCLUSION
Participants were encouraged to contact the Project Manager, Malia Wallace-Mello, if they have any questions.
Everyone was thanked.
Resources
- Substitute Senate Bill 5304. This bill directed DSHS to convene the Language Access Work Group.
- LTC Background (PDF). DSHS created this timeline to help work group participants get a high-level overview of the Language Testing and Certification (LTC) program that began in the early 1990s.
- DSHS Administrative Policy and Washington State Agency Publication Guidelines. These documents explain the process that the Language Access Work Group's report will go through before it can be submitted to the Legislature.
- Information Sheet: Preliminary Elements of Medical Interpreter Testing and Certification (PDF). Elements in this document helped participants create recommendations for how the State of Washington can support having more qualified medical interpreters.
- Participants were encouraged to use the Language Access Work Group: Draft Recommendations Form, which includes elements from the Information Sheet, as they drafted their recommendations.
- Language Access Work Group Participants
- Community Agreements
- Proposed Process Timeline
- Draft Recommendations page
- Draft Options
- FAQs
- Poll Results
- Public Comment
- Final Report