<div dir="ltr"><h1 id="blox-asset-title">
<span class=""><a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/news/city-of-houston-to-develop-language-access-plan/article_1fb55b1c-62df-5ec7-b5b1-b9c8141cbaea.html?mode=story">City of Houston to develop language access plan</a></span>
</h1><ul id="blox-body-nav" class=""><li><a class="" href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/news/city-of-houston-to-develop-language-access-plan/article_1fb55b1c-62df-5ec7-b5b1-b9c8141cbaea.html?mode=story" rel="nofollow"><span>Story</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/news/city-of-houston-to-develop-language-access-plan/article_1fb55b1c-62df-5ec7-b5b1-b9c8141cbaea.html#user-comment-area"><span>Comments</span></a></li></ul>
<div class="">
<div class="">
<a class=""><div class=""><span style="height:20px;width:111px"></span></div></a>
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
<a class=""><span></span></a><a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/content/tncms/live/#" title="View more services" target="_blank" class="">2</a>
</div>
</div>
<p class="">
Posted: <span class="" title="2013-07-31T13:18:00-05:00">Wednesday, July 31, 2013 1:18 pm</span>
</p>
<p class="">
</p>
<div class="">
<span class="">
<p>Houston Mayor Annise Parker today signed an Executive Order (EO)
establishing a policy to improve the delivery of services to Houston’s
diverse population. EO No. 1-17 addresses the language barriers that
many Houston residents face in accessing essential public information
and services in the areas of public safety, health services and economic
development.</p>
</span>
<span class="">
<p>“Whether it is to help plan for a hurricane or ways to reduce the
possibility of becoming a crime victim, all Houstonians should have
access to vital information that the City provides,” said Mayor Parker.
"This executive order will bridge the access gap by making it easier for
residents with limited English proficiency to obtain essential public
information and services.”</p>
</span><div class=""><div id="in-story">
<span class="">Advertisement</span>
<div id="tncms-region-ads-in-story" class="">
<br>
</div>
</div></div>
<p>Over the next 60 days, all departments that
provide essential services directly to the public will designate a
language access coordinator charged with overseeing the development of a
language access implementation plan. City departments are to complete
their respective implementation plans within six months. The Office of
International Communities (OIC), a division of the Department of
Neighborhoods, will oversee and coordinate the planning process.</p>
<p>The language access order calls for the
translation of essential public information into five languages other
than English for which there is the greatest need among Houston
residents. OIC will conduct a data-driven language needs assessment,
working closely with City departments, international community leaders
and stakeholders and university-based experts to identify the five
languages that will be adopted into the plan. OIC will assist city
departments in the provision of language access services to the public.</p>
<p>The language access executive order is aligned
with Mayor Parker’s commitment to strengthening the city’s economy and
improving the quality of life for all Houstonians.</p>
<p>“We are the most diverse city in the country,”
said Parker. “That means we are a community of many languages. This
executive order challenges us to better serve our constituency, our
global business community and visitors. It’s a step toward making
Houston one of the most inclusive cities in the world.”</p>
<p>For more information, contact OIC at 832-393-0855 or visit <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/oic">www.houstontx.gov/oic</a>.</p>
<a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/news/city-of-houston-to-develop-language-access-plan/article_1fb55b1c-62df-5ec7-b5b1-b9c8141cbaea.html">http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/news/city-of-houston-to-develop-language-access-plan/article_1fb55b1c-62df-5ec7-b5b1-b9c8141cbaea.html</a><br>
</div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br>
<br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************
</div>