1. Long Island Language Advocate Coalition Conference

2.  Inaccurate hospital records due to language barriers  Inappropriate referrals of LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patients. (higher level of care, services not provided, etc)  Insurance coverage issues o Lapse in policy o No Spanish language documents  Medication compliance issues o Eg. Meaning of “once” in Spanish

3. Long Island Language Advocate Coalition Conference  Not enough Spanish speaking providers o No Spanish info for hotlines, flyers (227-TALK), after hour services, phone systems, and mobile crisis.  Long waiting lists everywhere o Few providers o High volume of requests (30-35 calls per day) o Few Spanish speaking psychiatrists-long wait  In Primary Care, psychiatry or agency the provider is bilingual but the support staff is not bilingual and at times not culturally sensitive

4. Long Island Language Advocate Coalition Conference  Lack of cultural awareness – Language is not just “talk” its part of their cultural identity. o Individuals feel they don’t belong, they don’t feel accepted.  Inaccurate referrals. o Level of services does not match individual’s needs o Long waiting time – need to additional referral.

5. Long Island Language Advocate Coalition Conference  100% Spanish speaking staff.  All documents are in English and Spanish.  Culturally competent – many different cultures.  Provide appropriate and culturally sensitive referrals to meet their needs.  We understand the hx. of the clients, where they come from, we speak their language, and this allows them to feel more comfortable about disclosing information.  Due to language and cultural affinity, we go beyond the mental health needs of the individual and we provide referrals for concrete services (housing, school, legal, food, employment) that alleviate the mental health issues of the individual.

6. Long Island Language Advocate Coalition Conference QQuestions and Answers