Increasing Access to Services for Limited English Proficient Persons

Abstract

Recent federal policy initiatives highlight requirements for all United States federal agencies and all recipients of federal funding to proactively accommodate the LEP populations they serve. However, many of the agencies and organizations that receive federal funds are unaware of this obligation or have not taken action to comply with it. Implementing these initiatives, especially in an era of fiscal constraints, poses significant management challenges for public agencies. Local government entities, advocates and community organizations share an obligation to ensure effective access to LEP populations, and can reap mutual benefits through coordinated efforts to do so.

Acknowledgments

Gabrielle Lessard is a Staff Attorney at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). This article is based upon a forthcoming NILC issue brief. The author thanks Jan Frates for her many contributions to this article, although all mistakes remain her own.