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Norwalk Board of Health adopts updated cultural and linguistically appropriate services policy
Summary
The Board approved revisions to the department's cultural and linguistically appropriate services policy, shifting language toward cultural humility, clarifying interpreter resources, and endorsing health-literacy standards; the motion passed by voice vote.
The Norwalk Board of Health voted on Jan. 28 to approve revisions to the department’s Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Services policy, which staff said updates terminology and operational guidance to reflect cultural humility and current practice.
Staff members Darlene Hoffler and Teresa Agandezi described changes that include updated terminology, revised appendices, and recognition that three staff members are trained in medical interpretation to support clinical services. The policy also clarifies the department’s use of a language-line phone interpretation service and a translation service for written materials.
Board member Joan McNeil noted the availability of a language-line service for phone interpretation and the option to translate documents for a fee. Janet (staff member) had suggested checking literacy levels; staff said existing external-communications guidance includes a checklist to assess health-literacy elements and that many materials target a fifth-grade reading level with efforts to simplify further. “When people are under stress, their comprehension is often lower than usual,” a staff member said, describing why plain-language drafting matters.
During discussion, board members asked whether the department had changed internal gender-data fields; staff replied that internal policies had not been changed. After discussion, a motion to approve the revised policy was moved and seconded; the board approved the policy by voice vote with no opposed or abstentions recorded.
The department said it will incorporate the board’s feedback about linking health-literacy guidance and will ensure referenced federal or external resources are preserved in departmental records in case online links change.
