Addressing the Safety Challenges of Communities with Cultural, Generational and Language Differences

FIRE 20/20 (TM), a research and education nonprofit recently studied risk, injuries and the loss of life to both firefighters and community members in multicultural communities.

Funded by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Fire Prevention and Safety Grant, the research explored the safety challenges faced by the fire service and members of communities with multiple languages, differing cultural traditions and generational differences.

The November 2007 Webinar shared the results of this new research and best practices for working more effectively with multicultural communities, as well as strategies for developing and implementing multicultural recruitment programs, and prevention and public service campaigns to reduce the toll of fire-related injuries and deaths.

This report is a comprehensive survey conducted with firefighters in Seattle, Austin and Milwaukee as well as with various limited English proficient (LEP) community groups in these cities.

Participants were asked for their impressions about levels of service and responses touch upon a variety of language and culture issues.

There are many cultural stories about the use of fire at home. When the fire department is sharing these stories, you know the situation has gotten out of hand.

The anecdotal information will ring familiar with those of you working as first responders, and help you to better understand the various LEP mindsets relating to culture.

Download the final report from the Multicultural Health and Safety Research Project

Watch the Communications video segment from the Multicultural Health and Safety Research Project

Watch the Community Relations video segment from the Multicultural Health and Safety Research Project

Download a copy of the Presentation

View the Question and Answer Transcript

Language Line Services acquires TeleInterpreters

Monterey, Calif. - (January 11, 2008) - Language Line Services today acquired TeleInterpreters, forming the premier provider of language services to the nation's growing population of Limited-English speakers and the organizations who serve them.

The announcement was made by Dennis Dracup, Language Line Services' chairman and chief executive officer: "This acquisition strengthens Language Line Services' phone and video-based services, adds document translation and face-to-face interpretation, and solidifies our position as the leading language company in the world."

TeleInterpreters, a Language Line Services' competitor, was founded in 1987. It is a top-tier language services company that provides over the phone interpretation, document translation and face-to-face interpretation services.

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Language Line Services Launches LanguageTrak®

MONTEREY, CA - (January 23, 2008) - Language Line Services, the leading provider of interpretation services, today launched LanguageTrak®, a first-of-its-kind service that provides real-time demographic information on emerging language trends for more than 175 languages nationwide.

LanguageTrak will alert subscribers including banks, utilities, government organizations, hospitals, telephone, insurance, and other business service providers about changes to the language interpretation needs of their communities, as they happen, so they can prepare to best serve them.

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Language Line Services to Publish First-Ever Book on Telephone Interpreting

"Telephone Interpreting: A Comprehensive Guide to the Profession" by Acclaimed Author Nataly Kelly

MONTEREY, Calif.--(January 29, 2008)--Language Line Services announced today that it will publish the first full-length book on telephone interpreting written by interpreter and author Nataly Kelly.

The book, entitled "Telephone Interpreting: A Comprehensive Guide to the Profession," includes the first set of published best practice standards for the telephone interpreting industry, revolutionizing the field and enabling telephone interpreting providers to ensure high levels of quality to customers.

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Attention: Patient Care and Patient Relations Professionals; interested in ensuring your facilities comply with state mandates while improving the quality of care by overcoming language and cultural barriers.

Join us for a live, online Web-based demonstration of the Language Line® HealthPort system

• A presentation by, Charles Lee, MD, Founder & President Polyglot Systems Inc.;
• Scenarios of how the system can increase efficiency and reduce costs during patient registration;
• Accessing valuable cultural information regarding traditions, religion, dietary restrictions, medicinal practices, spiritual and cultural issues toward death; and,
• How to communicate verbally and print in-language discharge, follow up treatment and medication information for limited English proficient patients.

Space is limited to just 25 participants, so please register ASAP, and no later than Friday, February 8th by writing to healthletter@languageline. com

Sponsored by Language Line Healthcare Services

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