Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year; significant delays or issues, etc.)
The Office of Equity (OOE) met with community members in 2023 to better understand their experiences accessing and receiving county services in their preferred language, and any barriers faced regarding translation and interpretation services. Ten focus groups were conducted with residents who speak Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Mixteco, Chatino, Triqui, Mandarin, Cambodian, and Fijian. Focus groups were held with bilingual County of Sonoma staff as well as Department Heads.
On March 26, 2024, the OOE held a Language Access workshop and then returned on May 14, 2024 when the Board adopted the Language Access Policy.
Funding was approved to hire a Language Access Coordinator (LAC) to facilitate implementation of the plan and candidate interviews will be held in December 2024 and January 2025. The LAC is anticipated to begin in early 2025.
Key milestone update (include relevant metrics, if applicable)
- May 14, 2024 – Board adopted the Language Access Policy and Implementation Plan and funding was approved for the Office of Equity to hire a Language Access Coordinator to facilitate implementation.
- Presentations on the Language Access Policy was given to the Access and Functional Needs Committee on April 11, 2024, and at a Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) general membership meeting.
- A presentation on Language Access during Disasters was delivered at the October 24, 2024 Sonoma Shelter Council meeting.
- Translation of the Universal Disaster Intake Process (UDIP) demographic intake was done in: Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Coordination and partnership update
- Materials for Language Access Policy and Implementation Plan were shared with internal and external stakeholders, and county/agency department heads before workshops and board adoption.
- Partnerships have been formed with community groups, community leaders of non-English speaking populations, and internal-based partners to leverage their contact with the public, especially in target communities.
- Funding was approved for the Office of Equity to hire a Language Access Coordinator and the position has been posted.
- Community members are involved in the interviewing process to hire the Language Access Coordinator.
- An OOE Department Analyst has been providing technical assistance to departments related to the Policy.
- Collaboration between DEM (Department of Emergency Management), HSD (Human Services Department), and OOE (Office of Equity) continues regarding implementation of the UDIP in multiple languages.
- Collaboration between DEM, HSD, and OOE continues regarding Language Access during disasters, evacuation messaging, and care and shelter needs.
Community, equity and climate update
- This goal and related objectives are focused on community and equity. The public was engaged both virtually and in person through staff, existing community partnerships built and community-based organizations.
- The success and effectiveness of the Language Access Plan will be measured by adoption and implementation of the Policy, having required materials provided in needed languages, and having a consistent interpretation and translation policy in place countywide.
- Racial equity principles are applied in the development and implementation of the goals by centering and engaging linguistically diverse communities throughout the process.
- Community and community-based organizations will continue to have an integral role in the implementation phases.
- Also important is to geographically identify partners in all areas so that the engagement and information is disseminated in the broadest manner possible.
- Where possible, we will ensure that climate impact is considered in meetings and information sharing, including holding virtual meetings, limited printing of material, and offering other ways of providing useful information.
If this objective received Strategic Plan funding, please provide amount spent to date for non-position related funding.
$300,000 received in Year 1 Strategic Plan funding for Community Engagement and Language Access. A total of $105,000 has been encumbered with $160,000 that has been contracted or planned to be contracted. In 2023, $1,161 was expended and in 2024, $53,838.48 was expended, for a total of $54,999.48 expended. $160,000 is being held for contracts, leaving a balance of $85,000.52 out of the $300,000.
This objective received an additional $300,000 in ongoing funding, beginning from the Year 2 Strategic Plan funding cycle for Language Access Implementation.
