Amarillo Interpreting Service employs a pool of linguistically and culturally diverse staff that are fluent in English and at least one other language.  These professionally trained interpreters are available to meet the growing need of interpretation throughout the Amarillo area by providing quality interpreting services to limited English proficient (LEP) clients.

Amarillo Interpreting Service (AIS), of Catholic Family Service, was established in 2000 because of a growing need for professional and reliable interpreting services to non-English speaking populations in Amarillo.

Many agencies have chosen to work with AIS, because they have high demand of Interpreters and AIS has trained interpreters who function on a professional level.  The interpreters are guided by a code of ethics that include self evaluation, confidentiality, a non-judgmental attitude, client self-determination, accuracy and completeness in interpreting, and conversing culture frameworks.

 

Failure by any recipient of Federal funding to provide appropriate interpreter services is a violation of the law.  Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that:

• No person in the United States shall, on ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
• By reason of their participation in federally-funded programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid, virtually all U.S. health care providers and non-profit organizations are subject to Title VI.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights maintains that a lack of interpreters impedes linguistic minorities from gaining equal access to health services under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The Office of Civil Rights has stated that
• A recipient of Federal financial assistance that is unable to communicate with a substantial LEP population in its service area would effectively subject that population to discrimination based on national origin.  To avoid such discrimination against LEP persons, a recipient must assume the responsibility for providing bilingual staff or interpreters.

The Office of Civil Rights has also addressed the need for qualified interpreters:

Using an interpreter, whose skill level is unknown to the recipient of Federal funds or who is unqualified (often the case with family members or friends of the limited English proficient person), is usually acceptable only in situations where a high degree of accuracy, objectivity, or privacy is not essential.

Interpretation is considered an “essential” rather than “additional” service, and therefore must be provided without charge to the patient.  The courts and regional branches of the Office of Civil Rights have settled more than one hundred such complaints against health care institutions by requiring them to provide interpreter services.

This network originated as a joint project between Catholic Family Service and the Texas Department of Health in establishing a network of quality interpreters available to serve clients and their providers throughout the Amarillo Area.  This network is a part of the Texas Refugee Interpreter Coalition.

Trained interpreters function on a professional level.  They are guided by a code of ethics that includes self evaluation, confidentiality, a non-judgmental attitude, client self-determination, accuracy and completeness in interpreting, and conveying cultural frameworks.  Trained interpreters are fluent in English and at least one other language, and have a developed vocabulary in both languages for specific fields of interpreting.

1. Saves time and money.
2. Better client access to your services.
3. Professional, dependable interpreting when you need it.
4. Improved provider/client relations.
5. Fewer missed appointments — saves time!
6. Fewer lawsuits and complaints.
7. Increased efficiency and morale among staff. 8. Build trust in the non-English speaking community.