IN PUBLIC ENGAGMENT

LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICENCY:

Christy Moffett, LMSWTravis County, Texas

NACCED 36th Annual Conference

LEP DEFINED

“Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English.”

Federal Register, Vol. 72, No 23, Monday, January 22, 2007

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HUD & LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

An overview of

HUD’s guidance

regarding L.E.P.

FEDERAL REGISTER:NATIONAL ORIGIN

DISCRIMINATION AFFECTING LEP

Response to Executive Order 13166 requiring Federal Agencies to examine its services and respond to LEP needs.

Policy Guidance – Not Regulation

Title VI and its implementing regulations require Recipients ensure meaningful access to LEP populations.

LEP Plan is not required, but recommended.

Final Notice was

released on

January 22, 2007

with an effective

date of February

21, 2007.

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DETERMINING LEP RESPONSE

Four Factor Analysis

Number of LEP in Service Area

Frequency of Program Contact

Nature or Importance of Activity

Resources Available

Selecting Language Assistance

Services

Written Communication

Oral Communication

Create an LEP Plan

Identification of LEP Individuals

Language Assistance Measures

Training Staff & Providing Notice to LEP Persons

Monitoring and Updating Plan

Source:Federal Register, Vol. 72, No 23, Monday, January 22, 2007

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24 CFR PART 91:REFERENCES TO LEP

Under 24 CFR 91.105 (a) (2)(ii), Entitlements are obligated to provide language services for the citizen participation process.

For CDBG Recipients, “…[a] jurisdiction also is expected to take whatever actions are appropriate to encourage the participation of all its citizens, including minorities and non-English speaking persons as well as persons with disabilities.”

Entitlements have

LEP related issues

addressed within

their Citizen

Participation

Plans.

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TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS

An overview of

population,

race/ethnicity

& language

OVERVIEW OF TRAVIS COUNTY

Travis County has

experienced rapid

population growth

since 1990. The

population has

grown by almost

78% from 576,407

people in 1990 to

1,024,266 people in

2010.

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Non-Hispanic White, 527,528

51%Hispanic or Latino, 341,435

33%

Non-Hispanic Black, 82,860

8%

Non-Hispanic Asian, 55,078

5%

Non-Hispanic Other Race/Two or More Races,

19,2572%

Created by: Travis County HHS/ VS, Research & Planning Division, 2010Source data: 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Populationby Race/EthnicityTotal Population, Travis County, 2009

POPULATION BY RACE/ETHNICITY

Hispanics have

increased as a

proportion of

Travis County’s

population from

28% in 2000 to

33% in 2009

while the

proportion of

Non-Hispanic

Whites has

decreased.

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HISPANIC RESIDENTS BY BLOCK GROUP MAP

The Hispanic

population resides

throughout the

county with the

highest numbers

found in the south

and eastern areas.

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POPULATION PROJECTION

Travis County, Population Projection

YEAR TOTAL ANGLO BLACK HISPANIC OTHER

2000 812,280 465,317 76,192 229,048 41,723

2005 889,233 480,466 81,869 277,913 48,985

2010 966,129 491,018 87,463 330,064 57,584

2015 1,040,606 497,129 92,517 384,141 66,819

2020 1,112,034 498,407 97,021 440,187 76,419

2025 1,184,447 495,829 100,666 500,983 86,969

2030 1,257,213 488,403 103,443 566,914 98,453

2035 1,327,936 475,687 105,481 635,758 111,010

2040 1,394,738 458,359 106,477 705,674 124,228

Source: Office of the State Demographer, Texas State Data Center

Looking to 2040,

projections by the

Texas State Data

Center and the

Office of the State

Demographer

indicate the

strongest growth, by

race, is for the share

of the Hispanic

population in Travis

County.

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651,051

230,394

29,182 28,5395,330

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

English only Spanish Asian or Pacific Island Other Indo-European Other*

Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak EnglishPopulation 5 Years and Over, Travis County, 2009

Speaks English "very well"Speaks English "less than very well"

Language spoken at home

48%

52%

52%48%

75%

25%

71%

29%

Created by: Travis County HHS/VS, Research & Planning Division, 2010 Source data: 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

*The estimate is not reliable at a 90% confidence level.

LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME& ENGLISH

LANGUAGE LEVEL

About 49% of Travis

County residents,

who speak a

language other than

English at home,

speak English “less

than very well.”

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TRAVIS COUNTY CDBG LEP GUIDING PRINCIPLES

&ACTIONSA summary of

guiding principles

and actions taken

to comply with LEP

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN

Census data will be analyzed to identify areas where non-English speakers reside. If more than 25% of the population within the precinct speaks a language other than English, interpreters speaking those languages may be present at public hearings.

The CPP outlines

how Travis County

will ensure

accessibility of all

meeting notices,

public hearings, and

posted documents

for public review to

all segments of the

population,

including people

with unique needs,

language barriers, or

limited ability.

This statement was the starting point for our informal LEP Plan. As the demand and standardization of materials

occurred, LEP documents expanded and became easier to implement on a regular basis.

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TRAVIS COUNTY:LEP GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Review ACS Data on an Annual Basis

If 25% or more of the population speaks a language, then translation of public notices and summaries are required.

Have services available to provide translations and interpretations for any language should the need arise.

Review newspaper circulation to ensure capture of the LEP population.

LEP Plan is not

required, but is

one way

Entitlements can

demonstrate

reasonable steps

have been taken.

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TRAVIS COUNTY:LEP GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Review website views to determine the amount of traffic for LEP notices.

Determine if translation of additional content is needed.

All programs that provide services to clients need to have documents translated:

Applications, notices, primary surveys, marketing material, etc.

Sub-recipients need to demonstrate how they will handle LEP clients to ensure access.

These guiding

principles are the

foundation for the

County’s more

formal LEP Plan to

be developed this

upcoming program

year.

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TRAVIS COUNTY CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROCESS

Outreach Mail notices to all

neighborhood associations

Email and Postal Lists

Social Service List Serves

Website, Facebook & Twitter

Newspapers – both English & Spanish Language

Running ads on the TC -TV Channel

Flyers at the 7 Travis County Community Centers

Engagement 8 Public Hearings

4 traditional public hearing testimony formats

4 facilitated group discussions

Participation Forms

Project Proposals

Provider Surveys

Primary Surveys

Technical Assistance Visits

Since 2006,

over 350

people have

engaged

with the

CDBG

program.

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CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:DOCUMENTS TRANSLATED

English Advertisements for Action Plan, Consolidated Plan & CAPER

Summary of Action Plan, Consolidated Plan & CAPER

PowerPoints for Public Hearings

Participation Forms

Project Proposals

Entire Action Plan, Consolidated Plan & CAPER

Website Content

Facebook & Twitter

Spanish

Standardize written materials to reduce translation costs.

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Advertisements for Action Plan, Consolidated Plan & CAPER

Summary of Action Plan, Consolidated Plan & CAPER

PowerPoints for Public Hearings

Participation Forms

Project Proposals

Website Content

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:INTERPRETATION SERVICES

Public Hearings require 5 days notice to ensure translator is available.

In the two precincts where the Hispanic population is larger, a Spanish speaking staff person attends.

Use staff to assist with interpretation most of the time. However, alternates are available:

Same consultant who translates written materials can also provide interpretation services, or

Use Language Line if other language is needed.

Imagine being in a meeting where you have no idea what is being said, but you want to have a voice in the process.

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LEP CONSIDERATIONS

Make changes incrementally

Create a Translation/Interpretation Budget

Standardize materials to reduce translation costs

Create a glossary of terms

Try to find a native speaker of the language to review translations

Review circulation rates for newspapers & website views to help inform translation needs

Work towards making multi-lingual products effortless

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RESOURCES

www.lep.gov

Translated HUD materials & Webinars on LEP

HUD.GOV LEP Implementation Plan

Memo Re: Fair Housing and LEP - 04/13/09

Checklist of Developing a Limited English Proficiency Plan, NASWA

City of Huntsville, AL LEP Plan - FY 2009

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Christy Moffett

CDBG Manager

Travis County, TX

christy.moffett@co.travis.tx.us

www.traviscountytx.gov

512.854.3460

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