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MHRC updates language-access study, aims for community survey in January
Summary
The Metro Human Relations Commission received a progress report on a new language access study that will survey residents in 10 languages, analyze departmental practices and vendor spending, and aim to deliver draft recommendations before the next budget cycle.
The Metro Human Relations Commission on Tuesday heard an update on a city-funded language access study that staff say will produce actionable recommendations for departments and be timed to inform the next budget cycle.
Gavin, the commission’s language-access lead, told commissioners the study builds on a 2017 report and a 2023 pilot. His team has completed stakeholder engagement and departmental self-assessments and plans a public community-survey translated into 10 commonly used Nashville languages. "I don't want this to be a report that, again, just sits on a website," Gavin said, adding the goal is "real tangible policy implications" that departments can implement.
Staff described five phases for the project: stakeholder engagement, departmental self-assessments, a policy review against national best practices, a community-needs survey, and a recommendations-and-feedback phase. Gavin said nearly three quarters of departments completed lengthy self-assessments and that the team is consolidating and beginning data analysis. He said part of the measurement strategy is coding existing language-service spending; staff identified roughly $10 million in translation contracts as an initial budgetary proxy.
Commissioners asked how needs would be measured and expressed concern about undercounting people who avoid contact with government because of immigration enforcement. Gavin said the study will rely on a mix of budget coding, counts of LEP (limited-English-proficiency) contacts, community partner outreach and the planned survey: "We're asking people how many LEP individuals do you get in your office a month?" He also said the team is exploring using some funds to hire community canvassers to boost survey participation.
The commission encouraged the staff to include nonprofit partners such as Catholic Charities, the Tennessee Language Center and Nashville International Center for Empowerment in outreach to reach populations who may fear government contact. Gavin said he plans to launch the community survey in early January and to have a draft report and recommendations in the spring so that potential budget impacts can be considered ahead of budget season.
The commission did not vote on policy changes at the meeting; staff asked commissioners to help disseminate the survey and provide feedback on partners and outreach approaches.
