Assisting Someone Needing a Language Interpreter

If someone calls Middle Way House without knowing how to speak English clearly, please recognize how brave an effort it is to make that call. While arranging for a phone interpreter, speak slowly to them stating clearly “We Will Help You”  What is your language? (you might suggest spanish? chinese?) When speaking slowly with a question mark in your voice give the person time to formulate a response. (This is true for all other calls also). Speak clearly and refer to this online tool which tells you how to say “one moment please” in 18 languages.  At that point, tell crisis line you have a call needing interpretation services (after pressing hold button press 126) and then transfer the call to the crisis line. It is doubtful that Crisis Line will ever not be able to respond, but there are times that it gets very busy in shelter so it could theoretically occur.

If Crisis Line is busy,  please click on the image below to refer to instructions for connecting a call for interpretation.

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For walk-in clients needing language interpretation: Please refer to a small navy flip chart labeled I Speak that is kept at the front desk, directly under the computer monitor. It enables you to determine the language of someone who has walked in with a need for services, so that you can connect with the same Propio interpretation services referred to above.

You will need to find an available office space and phone, using lines 1,2 or 3 to call the language line and also using the other individuals cell phone. If they do not come in with a phone, wing it and arrange another phone. In this way, you will end up speaking to the person while they are there with you, while both of you are on the phone.

 

 

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