Supervisors refer Indigenous medical‑interpreter pilot for Alisal clinic to Health Department

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on June 10 received a referral from Supervisors John L. Alejo and Chris Lopez asking county staff to develop a pilot program to hire Indigenous medical interpreters and community health workers, update appointment systems to flag interpreter needs, and provide culturally appropriate informational materials by video where possible.

The referral, read into the record by the county chief administrative officer, asked that the pilot begin at the Alisal Health Clinic in East Salinas, an office identified by supervisors as the clinic most used by Indigenous communities in the area. The measure requests cultural‑competency training for clinic staff, assistance for residents with limited writing ability to complete forms, and that the health department provide key information about billing and coverage in Indigenous languages when feasible.

Supervisor Alejo acknowledged meetings with local Indigenous leaders and community organizations, and said the pilot is intended to improve access to care and could expand to other clinics if successful. The CAO noted the referral has been assigned to the county health department director for development and next steps.

No formal vote was recorded on the referral beyond its acceptance and assignment to staff; the transcript shows the item was placed on the referral matrix and assigned for follow up.

Ending: The board identified the health department director as the assignee and signaled support for starting the pilot at Alisal Health Clinic; staff will return with implementation details and timelines as required by the department’s assignment.