R.I. ACLU v. Rhode Island Department of Human Services

  • Filed: 03/28/2011
  • Status: Closed
  • Latest Update: Mar 28, 2011
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Summary

This was a formal administrative complaint filed with the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, claiming that DHS has failed to provide adequate interpreter services to clients with limited English proficiency. Among other things, a resolution agreement set obligations and standards for DHS to follow to determine the linguistic needs of affected individuals and provide them appropriate interpreter services, to translate important agency documents into languages spoken by 5% of the population affected by DHS programs, to ensure that the language assistance provided to applicants and clients is timely, and to train employees of their obligations under the law.

News & Commentary

Jan 19, 2011

ACLU Complaint Against Department of Human Services for Lack of Interpreter Services is Resolved

In response to a civil rights complaint filed by the Rhode Island ACLU against the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) for violating laws requiring the agency to provide appropriate language interpreter services, a detailed 24-page resolution agreement has been entered this week between DHS and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agreement establishes detailed timeframes for DHS to follow in order to ensure that clients who have limited English proficiency (LEP) have access to the services and programs provided by the agency.

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Dec 17, 2007

ACLU Files Civil Rights Complaint Against DHS for Lack of Adequate Interpreter Services

The Rhode Island ACLU has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the state’s Department of Human Services for violating a federal law and a consent agreement with the federal government that requires the agency to provide appropriate interpreter services to clients with limited English proficiency (LEP). The 11-page complaint follows both controversial comments recently made by Governor Carcieri denouncing state-funded interpreters for DHS clients, and layoffs of all the agency’s Southeast Asian interpreters.

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Nov 28, 2007

ACLU Says State Layoffs of Interpreters May Violate Agreement with Federal Government

Less than two weeks after Governor Donald Carcieri announced layoffs of four interpreters from the Department of Human Services (DHS), the RI ACLU today revealed that DHS is bound by a consent agreement with the federal government to “schedule interpreters or bilingual staff when necessary” to communicate with clients who have limited English proficiency (LEP), and to have procedures in place “permitting timely and effective telephone communication between LEP persons and DHS staff.”

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Learn More About the Issues in This Case

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Related News & Podcasts

News & Commentary
Jan 19, 2011
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  • Immigrants’ Rights

ACLU Complaint Against Department of Human Services for Lack of Interpreter Services is Resolved

In response to a civil rights complaint filed by the Rhode Island ACLU against the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) for violating laws requiring the agency to provide appropriate language interpreter services, a detailed 24-page resolution agreement has been entered this week between DHS and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agreement establishes detailed timeframes for DHS to follow in order to ensure that clients who have limited English proficiency (LEP) have access to the services and programs provided by the agency.
News & Commentary
Dec 17, 2007
Placeholder image
  • Immigrants’ Rights

ACLU Files Civil Rights Complaint Against DHS for Lack of Adequate Interpreter Services

The Rhode Island ACLU has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the state’s Department of Human Services for violating a federal law and a consent agreement with the federal government that requires the agency to provide appropriate interpreter services to clients with limited English proficiency (LEP). The 11-page complaint follows both controversial comments recently made by Governor Carcieri denouncing state-funded interpreters for DHS clients, and layoffs of all the agency’s Southeast Asian interpreters.
News & Commentary
Nov 28, 2007
Placeholder image
  • Immigrants’ Rights

ACLU Says State Layoffs of Interpreters May Violate Agreement with Federal Government

Less than two weeks after Governor Donald Carcieri announced layoffs of four interpreters from the Department of Human Services (DHS), the RI ACLU today revealed that DHS is bound by a consent agreement with the federal government to “schedule interpreters or bilingual staff when necessary” to communicate with clients who have limited English proficiency (LEP), and to have procedures in place “permitting timely and effective telephone communication between LEP persons and DHS staff.”