Multilingual communication is important to OYA’s overall mission of holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for communicating reformative information, processes, and practices. OYA values and supports diversity and seeks to provide language-specific and culturally appropriate services for youth and their families. As a result, we have a multifaceted approach to language access.
OYA’s Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR) provides verbal interpretation services for youth and families who speak limited English, including certified medical interpretation. These interpretation services are essential to ensure state mandates are being met, and the youth can effectively communicate with staff, receive medical, behavioral health, and rehabilitative services, and engage with their peers. Our primary need is for youth and families that speak Spanish, though we also provide services in other languages as requested, often through the Language Link line. Currently, 100 youth in our facilities and 120 in the community are Hispanic/Latine.
OIIR Director Griselda Solano-Salinas points out, “Language access is very important for our youth, especially those from Spanish-speaking families who are monolingual. It affects their treatment, how well they feel, and how involved their families are throughout the process. When youth and their families can’t understand or communicate, they might miss out on important information, not be able to fully participate in their programming and treatment, or not be able to speak up for themselves.”
Language access services for all youth
There are key moments for OYA-involved youth throughout their time with OYA including initial placement and moving to a new placement or back into the community. We have youth workbooks to help with these transitions including our orientation and transition guides to help youth adjust during intake all the way through to taking steps toward their termination. Part of language access is ensuring these materials are available in Spanish for native speakers.
Language access for youth in facilities
There are several communications related to a youth’s development provided in Spanish, including the following:
- Rights and responsibilities to help youth understand their rights at intake
- OYA Risk Needs Assessment, which is a broad survey of youth strengths and needs that helps determine necessary treatment
- Access to behavioral and substance use disorder curricula
- Work with Spanish-speaking mentors and volunteers
Language access for youth in residential programs
One of OYA’s new residential providers Team Bailey, Inc.’s Casa De Maple serves male Latino youth as a part of our continued, intentional efforts to grow more culturally specific services for youth in the community. Services are delivered by culturally diverse staff, and they provide culturally appropriate meals, activities, and other relevant services. Casa De Maple staff will help youth gain skills during placement and ensure they can succeed and continue their skill-building as they transition to independence.
Language access for families
Family support and participation while youth are in OYA programs lead to better outcomes for youth. An important part of language access is ensuring families can participate in their youth’s reformation journey. This is why Spanish communications for families such as the parent support group, family versions of the youth workbooks on orientation and transition, and monthly newsletter for families are available in Spanish as well. Bilingual Juvenile Parole and Probation Officer Prisicila Hasselman explains, “We know that family participation is crucial to youths’ success in our system. Youth thrive when their families are involved and informed—by providing more language access and culturally appropriate services, we’re enabling families to actively participate and support their youth. When youth succeed, communities become safer, which is at the core of what we do.”
Solano-Salinas adds, “Family involvement is key in the success of our youth, and when we can provide meaningful ways for monolingual parents to engage, such as translated communication, it strengthens the connection between families and our facilities, empowering families and promoting equity in treatment.”
OYA acknowledges there is more to be done and youth and families have outstanding unmet needs, including needs related to an increase in the number of monolingual Spanish-speaking youth placed in OYA care. Looking forward, OYA is working toward expanding access to vocational training in Spanish, the ability to have increased on-site interpretation hours at facilities, and expanding our services in other languages, among other improvements.