The Federal government outlines in numerous documents options for interpreters - bilingual staff, contract interpreters, and telephone interpreter lines – and underscores that these interpreters must “be trained and must demonstrate competence as interpreters.” Federal guidelines also suggest community volunteers as an option and stress that they should be “competent as interpreters and understand their obligation to maintain client confidentiality.” To consult Federal guidelines on interpreters, visit Immigration Rights.

Below is a list of local resources. To add a resource, contact peterl@piedmonthousing.org

NON-PROFIT RESOURCES

International Rescue Committee Interpreter Service
Contact: Neil Rodrigo-Kelley
Telephone: (434) 979-7772
Address: 609 East Market Street Suite 104, Charlottesville 22902

Community Health Interpreter Service (CHIS)
Contact: Svetlana Shulgan
Telephone: (540) 568-3011
Email: shulgasx@jmu.edu
Description: Information about this service providing Arabic, Bosnian, Kurdish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish and Ukranian interpreters to Harrisonburg, Winchester, Rockingham and Charlottesville, can be found at: http://www.brahec.jmu.edu/interpschedule.html and http://www.brahec.jmu.edu/PDF/CHIS%20brochure.pdf

LIST OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

Creciendo Juntos – Growing Together hopes to develop such a list in the future.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Virginia Court Interpreters
The process for becoming a certified Virginia Court interpreter is described at: http://www.courts.state.va.us/interpreters/usage.htm

INTERPRETER TRAININGS

International Rescue Committee
Description: IRC trainings are for persons who want to be IRC interpreters.
Contact: Neil Rodrigo-Kelley
Telephone: (434) 979-7772
Address: 609 East Market Street Suite 104, Charlottesville 22902
http://www.theirc.org/what/community_interpreter_service.html

Blue Ridge AHEC Interpreter Trainings (at JMU)
Description: the Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center at James Madison University provides a 20-Hour Introduction to Community Interpreting Training for persons who wish to be trained to interpret in community settings such as in schools and social service agencies. A separate, specialized 20-hour course has been developed to train volunteer UVA student interpreters at UVA Medical Center. There is also a 40-Hour Health Care Interpreter Training, “Bridging the Gap”. These trainings are held in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Winchester, on a rotating basis throughout the year. Those who are interested in taking the trainings must apply two to six months ahead of time and take a language proficiency test to qualify. Click here for a brochure about the “Bridging the Gap” and “Introduction to Community Interpreter” trainings.
Contact: 540/568-3172 or interpreter@jmu.edu

Medical Interpreter Loan Repayment Program
Description: The Virginia Medical Interpreter Loan Repayment Program has been established to build capacity statewide to deliver linguistically appropriate healthcare services and communicate with limited English proficient (LEP) individuals in the event of a public health emergency. Funds are being made available to provide full tuition reimbursement to a limited number of bilingual individuals each year who wish to be trained as medical interpreters through an authorized Virginia course provider. Any bilingual individual who has successfully passed the course pre-requisite language proficiency test is eligible to apply. For the 40 credit hours of tuition repaid on their behalf, an applicant must agree to participate in 40 hours of community service (community service hours must be completed within 12 months after course completion) as an interpreter through an authorized Virginia course provider interpreter service program AND/OR an authorized healthcare safety net provider site. Applicants must also be willing to be called on to assist with interpretation in the event of a public health emergency.
Contact: Fatima Sharif
Email: Fatima.Sharif@vdh.virginia.gov

TRANSLATION SERVICES

Spanish in Virginia
Description: Offers English to Spanish translation services for documents, letters, brochures, newspaper articles, fliers, user's guides, websites, etc. Also proofreads all kind of documents written in Spanish: books, letters, signs, banners, documents, essays, brochures,etc
Contact: Antonio Diaz
Telephone: (434) 960-5185
Web: http://www.spanishinvirginia.com

English for Success/Inglés para el éxito
Description: English/Spanish Translation Services, from letters to policy handbooks
Contact: Hazael Garay
Telephone: (434) 989-2508