Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Services (CLAS)
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Transcript of Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Services (CLAS)
Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Services
(CLAS)
“Ultimately, disasters are characterized by
many people trying to do quickly what they
do not ordinarily do, in an environment with
which they are not familiar.”
Chan, T. C., Killeen, J., Griswold, W., & Lenert, L. (2004). Information
technology and emergency medical care during disasters. Academic
Emergency Medicine, 11(11), p. 1229-1236.
Title VI, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., was enacted as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As President John F. Kennedy said in 1963:
Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination.
Title VI--Civil Rights Act of 1964
Executive Order 13166-Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (2000)
Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (2006) Added limited English proficiency (and disability) to list
classes protected by the Stafford Act. Must provide services in a way that does not discriminate against those with LEP
Attorney General’s 2011 Memo to Federal Agencies Reaffirming the Mandates of E.O. 13166 Expressed concern regarding lack of compliance
Discrimination
Who lives in your community?
Who may live part time in your community?
Why should you pay attention and know this ?
What is functional literacy?
Do you know…
Languages Likely to be Encountered-Any missing?
•African Languages*•Arabic•Armenian•Burmese•Chinese•French•German•Greek
•Gujarathi•Hebrew•Hindi•Hmong•Hungarian•Italian•Japanese•Khmer
•Korean•Laotian•Navajo•Persian•Polish•Portuguese•Russian•Scandinavian
•Serbo-Croatian•Spanish•Tagalog •Thai•Urdu•Vietnamese•Yiddish
* Over 2500 languages spoken. Common: Amharic, Arabic, Berber, Hausa, Igbo, Oromo, Somali, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, Zulu
Speaking louder does not facilitate understanding Have language service contract in place Test the system Have simple and easy to follow instructions for staff on
how to use the services Identify your language needs ahead of time
Update at least yearly
Different cultures express anxiety and show empathy differently A smile can be used to show happiness, embarrassment,
fear, tension, resignation, remorse etc. What the smile means depends on the 'type' being used. In the Thai language, there are 13 different words to indicate the type of smile.
Keep in mind
Undocumented immigrants and non-citizens may choose to avoid government officials
Prior experience or practice of deportation Be prepared to explain policy in their
language Rituals are important – prayers, amulets Have clear and simple instructions printed in
multiple languages ahead of time
Keep in mind
Social – family structure Gender Roles Cultural and Religious Differences View of authority figures Non-citizens could be wrongfully
denied recovery aid due to their immigration status or because they lost important immigration documents
Keep in mind
A smile and acceptance leads to a world full of clarity and connectedness.