Removing language barriers to limited english-speaking populations is the main focus of:

Culture can be defined by group membership, such as racial, ethnic, linguistic, or geographical groups, or as a collection of beliefs, values, customs, ways of thinking, communicating, and behaving specific to a group.

Public health officials and health care providers belong to professional cultures with their own language—such as epidemiological and medical terms. These terms are not familiar to the public and hinder the public’s understanding of written and spoken health messages. Understanding can be further hindered when other cultural differences exist.

The National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards can help your organization overcome these cultural and linguistic differences. The National CLAS Standards are a set of 15 action steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by providing a blueprint for individuals and health and health care organizations to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

Learn how the White Earth Nation, one of 11 tribes in the state of Minnesota, used culturally and linguistically appropriate messaging and other health literacy best practices as part of a multifaceted approach to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efforts resulted in vaccinating more than 93 percent of the White Earth Nation’s elders. Read Stories from the Field: The White Earth Nation.

Adapt your communication products and strategies to the specific culture and language of your intended audience by consulting CDC’s Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication (HEGP).

If you or your organization works in global public health, consult Global Public Health Equity Guiding Principles for Communication. This resource complements HEGP by adding a global perspective.

Learn to work with faith leaders and faith-based organizations to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers to global health communication. Watch The Importance of Language: Faith Partner Resources for Health Emergencies. In this recording of a World Health Organization webinar, presenters show how faith-based organizations used health literacy best practices in their COVID-19 educational efforts. This included translating materials into many languages (like Honduran Sign Language for people who are deaf) to provide clear information on different health topics to specific populations. It also included working with faith leaders in a participatory design approach.

Review the Find Training section of this website for courses in culture and communication.

Translation and Interpretation

Removing language barriers to limited english-speaking populations is the main focus of:

Effective communication recognizes and bridges cultural differences.

Translated materials and interpreter services can help bridge language differences, but translations and interpreter services may not be fully accurate or complete. Not all languages have words for something that exists in other languages and cultures, and not all words and ideas can be easily translated into or explained in another language.

Or, people may have weak literacy and numeracy skills in their native language, and translated materials may be too complex or technical for them.

The context for communication, such as the physical location or people’s shared or different experiences, may also affect the meaning of translated and interpreted words. The intended meaning may be lost, causing confusion even when everyone involved in the communication exchange believes they understand what is said.

To minimize this confusion, match certified translators and interpreters with the primary audience. A good match happens when the translator or interpreter collects information about and adapts to the intended audience’s language preferences, communication expectations, and health literacy skills. The American Translators Association has information on finding and becoming a certified translator.

Language Access

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at least 350 languages are spoken in U.S. homes. Federal agencies and organizations that receive federal funds must create and follow plans to meet the needs of people with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Before creating web content, social media messages, and other digital products for people with LEP, consult the following resources:

  • Improving Access to Public Websites and Digital Services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons (Limited English Proficiency Committee, Title VI Interagency Working Group, December 2021)
    As the title suggests, this resource describes, in plain language, best practices for improving access to public websites and digital services for people with LEP. Examples of websites, social media messages, and other digital products are included.
  • Designing for Translation (Digital.gov Multilingual Community of Practice, May 2021)
    In this webinar, speakers discuss the following topics:
    • What is designing for translation?
    • Language choice
    • Plain language
    • Layout and imagery
  • Practical Tips for Accessible Content and Multilingual Websites (Digital.gov Multilingual Community of Practice, December 2020)
    In this webinar, two digital accessibility experts discuss accessibility considerations for creating and working with multilingual platforms and content. Fast forward to the 33:36 mark on the video progress bar.

To enhance effective communication between people who provide and receive care in health care facilities, consult the Guide to Providing Effective Communication and Language Assistance Services.

Resources for Translated Materials

  • CDC.gov in Spanish
  • Health Information in Multiple Languages; select by language (U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus)
  • Health Information Multiple Languages; select by topic (U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus)
  • Resources in Multiple Languages from Other Federal Agencies (National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities)

What is the main focus of linguistic competency?

Linguistic Competence: Providing readily available, culturally appropriate oral and written language services to limited English proficiency (LEP) members through such means as bilingual/bicultural staff, trained medical interpreters, and qualified translators.

What are the four steps to building trust?

4 Steps To Building Trust.
Step 1: Start Talking About Trust, And Talk About It Often. Lead by example. ... .
Step 2: Believe That Trust Is Possible. It is difficult to create an outcome that you don't really believe in, or are unwilling to believe is possible. ... .
Step 3: Walk the Talk. ... .
Step 4: Practice Authentic Trust..

What is cultural diversity quizlet?

Cultural Diversity. includes but is not limited to, people of varying cultures, racial and ethnic origin, religion, language, physical size, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic status, occupational status, and geographic location.

What is the definition of health disparity quizlet?

What are health disparities? Health Disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, morbidity, burden of disease, and other adverse health conditions and outcomes among specific population groups.