Language Access Toolkit Training

The City and County of Denver’s efforts to develop a language access (LA) program is an integral part of ensuring that the City of Denver is an inclusive City that integrates social equity, race, immigrant integration, and social justice into policies, practices, programs, and budgetary decisions to create equitable outcomes. This program is key in ensuring equitable communication distribution of information, benefits, services, and resources offered by all City agencies to all Denver residents regardless of English proficiency. This program aims to serve the 37% of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Denver residents who identify as speaking English “less than very well”.
As residents, workers, or visitors who contribute to City life, people with limited English proficiency are entitled to fair and equal access to service. Denver’s Comprehensive Plan 2040 describes one of its main visions for inclusivity as, “ensuring all Denver residents have safe, convenient, and affordable access to basic services”. One of the strategic goals for this vision includes, “improving equitable access to City resources and City meetings through proactive and transparent communications, easy-to-access information and materials available in more than one language.”
Communications that are accessible to the whole community further exemplifies that Denver is a welcoming and inclusive City to all foreign-born residents. A resident that feels welcomed, heard, and understood will thrive and in turn, contribute to a community where all members thrive. Meeting the City’s language access needs not only reflects who we want to be as a City, but it is also smart governing. Neighborhoods are stronger and safer, and residents feel more connected when they feel that they belong and can access the information and services that they need.
Denver is strongly committed to making City services and information about those services available to everyone, regardless of language barriers. This commitment stems from overall City goals of efficient and effective government, community engagement, and customer service. Language Access is nothing more than ensuring all Denver residents receive information published by the City in a form that the resident understands so that every resident receives critical information and understands the City processes and resources available.
The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (DOIRA) promotes immigrant integration through inclusive programming, policies, partnerships, and community engagement. The Language Access program under DOIRA provides guidance and subject matter expertise to the City on language access compliance and overall programming. This includes supporting agencies and offices with technical assistance and review of their language access plan, development and implementation, translation/interpretation vendor selection, language determination, training as needed, targeted neighborhood and community engagement strategies, and connection to non-English media.