MassLegalHelp overhaul, DTA Lang Access Plan, DTAConnect training
A number of resources and updates are below! Our next SNAP Coalition meeting will be on Tuesday, April 23, from 10-11:30. And check out below DTA training on DTAConnect improvements on April 24th!
Mass Legal Help - brand new look and resources!
We are thrilled to announce that our MLRI colleagues, after years of work, have launched an overhaul of MassLegalHelp.org!
MassLegalHelp is a statewide website that strives to provide free, practical, plain language information about legal rights for individuals and families across the Commonwealth. Legal information provided on housing, debt, divorce, public benefits, employment and unemployment, immigration, CORIs and more!
Check it out! Our colleagues will join at the end of the April Coalition meeting to share the site with you all as well. And if you have ideas for information to improve MLH, let us know! We are currently working on upgrading and moving a number of SNAP Know Your Rights materials over to MLH- stay tuned on that.
DTA’s revised Language Access Plan - where to flag Limited English Proficient (LEP) complaints/concerns
In response to an executive order from Governor Healey, DTA recently revised their Language Access Plan. The plan and procedures for elevating LEP complaints to staff at DTA can be found here.
Page 5 of the plan includes data on the number of households served by DTA who speak a language other than English - the top languages (in order) are Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, etc), Brazilian Portuguese, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic, Khmer (Cambodian), and Cape Verdean Creole.
Under federal law DTA must provide free interpreter services to all LEP households and meet other rules. If you have concerns about how an LEP client was treated, please let Vicky or Pat know.
DTA training on DTAConnect Update My Information option & resource for community groups
DTA recently made some significant and exciting changes to DTAConnect. Households can now update their rent/shelter costs, childcare costs, medical expenses, and more right on DTAConnect. DTA has a guide on how to use this tool for community organizations posted here.
DTA has offered to do an in depth training for communities organizations about this change. On Wednesday, 4/24 from 11:00-12:30, To join, use this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98796946986?
Meeting ID: 987 9694 6986
Passcode: 508095
2024 Language Access Conference: April 24 from 9 - 3:30 pm
Massachusetts is home to many people and communities who make up the richness and diversity of a multilingual population spanning many cultures. We are the tenth most linguistically diverse state in the country, and 20% of Massachusetts’ total population is deaf or hard of hearing. Just two years ago, 1 in 10 Massachusetts residents spoke a primary language other than English. That number has risen to 1 in 4 residents—above the national average of 21.6%.
Join this program to hear seasoned panelists talk about how to reach beyond language access toward language inclusivity. Register here.
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