Language Access Work Group

Notes from

Meeting 2Breakout Room 3

August 8, 2023

Breakout Room 3Participants Breakout Room 3Facilitator

Milena Calderari-Waldron Sharon Armstrong

Sherri Fujita

Jarrod Irvin

Zenaida Rojas

Radu Smintina

Yun-Mei Wang Wilborn

Homework:In what ways can the State of Washington support having more qualified medical interpreters?

• Please seeInformation Sheet: Preliminary Elements of Medical Interpreter Testing and Certificationfor examples as well as preliminary elements of medical interpreter testing and certification to be considered in a recommendation
• Participants are encouraged to use theLanguage Access Work Group: Draft Recommendations Form, which includes elements from theInformation Sheet, as they draft their recommendations

• DSHS should resume testing; works well, has more interpreters.

• Propose update of current test ($75).

• CCHI testing boards; currently used. Expensive but valid.

• DSHS is not losing money by testing.

• Job task analysis to find out how much has changed since 1995 with interpreter work to update test.

• Making sure we have access to education so people can prepare and pass.

• Free or low-cost tests.

• Clarification question about DSHS no longer testing?? Other certifications too expensive?

• Higher authority requiring certain testing entities? If not, state could create cost effective test.

• Evidence-based practices necessary? CCHI testing validity a necessary standard?

• Make sure our requirements are not more stringent than necessary.

• Authentic verbal and action support; reduce intimidation factor.

• Expanding beyond the five primary languages.

• Should stick with state standards of language translation options.

• Authentic conversations with diverse communities.