Managing a multilingual Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion program
Abstract
Operating a bilingual or multilingual program can expand services to varied clients and attract new and diverse volunteers. Tom Reefe of the Tri-County Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program in Aptos, California, submitted this effective practice that highlights his program where native English speakers constitute only 31 percent of the volunteer pool.Issue
Running a bilingual or multilingual volunteer program presents a unique set of challenges for those who are native English speakers, beyond what program directors typically face.Action
The following effective practices are from Tom Reefe, Director of the Tri-County Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program, where the largest non-English speaking monolingual group is Hispanic. Effective practices include acquiring specialized equipment, and although programs might think they cannot afford to take these steps, the dollars spent on translation equipment and collective translation services actually saves much larger amounts of money that would be paid to staff to provide basic information to individuals. Other effective practices include:- Hire a bilingual/bicultural Hispanic Program Specialist who can handle all phone and personal communications with monolingual Spanish-speaking volunteers.
- Have all major forms and documents available in both English and Spanish -- including the program's handbook.
- Hire professional Spanish language translators to work at in-service and other trainings. As part of the Tri-County FGP/SCP program there are four in-service training sessions per month at four locations scattered across the rather large service area. The program pays professional Spanish-language translators to work at two of the monthly sessions where Hispanics attend in large numbers. (This cost the program $5,316 in 2003). In conjunction, the program has purchased a "translation system" -- a portable headset for the translator who speaks into it, while the Spanish-speaking volunteers have matching radios with earpieces to pick up the translation. Cost of the system was about $2,500 for the headset, and eighteen receivers and carrying case. (A feature that is particularly attractive about this system is the possibility of simultaneous translation of English-language training videotapes and guest speakers.)
- Make a point of addressing individual needs of Spanish-speaking volunteers during in-service sessions and other trainings where paid translators are already available and can be asked for assistance during breaks and at the end of the sessions.
- Ask volunteers who are bilingual to translate for staff on behalf of other monolingual volunteers.
- Utilize Advisory Council members who may be leaders in their ethnic communities and/ or are bilingual. The Tri-County FGP/SCP has a leader of the local Filipino community who is fluent in several Filipino languages on their Advisory Council, and when there is a need for very formal and accurate translation he serves as a volunteer translator.
Context
The Tri-County Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program serves thirteen communities located in three counties in the Monterey Bay Area of the central California Coast.In 2003, over 150 volunteers provided 125,000 of volunteer hours, serving in:- More than 50 classrooms in Head Start Centers and day care centers
- More than 50 classrooms in elementary schools and a juvenile hall
- A public hospital
- More than five adult day care resource centers and assisted living facilities.
Outcome
Before the Tri County FGP/SCP had translation equipment and collective translation services in place, the more proficient bilingual volunteers (several of whom were working in schools with both English and Spanish speakers) were asked to serve as translators for guest speakers at in-services. However, these volunteers were not professionally trained translators and translation work is exhausting - especially for seniors.There are several payoffs to keeping lines of communication open among such a diverse group of seniors:- The program achieves a high degree of cooperation from its volunteers in processing the numerous forms and information collected. This includes income verification form, physical exam form, and personal data form as well as the questionnaires and client care plans which Senior Corps programs use for Programming for Impact reporting. The dollars spent on translation equipment and collective translation services actually saves much larger amounts of money that would be paid to staff to provide basic information to individuals.
- Effective translation guarantees that the program can direct its Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers towards the central goals of the program and to the clients that need services. Volunteers who speak different languages are able to share information and ideas with a diverse group of clients. Sharing and communicating between volunteers from different cultures allows them to learn that they face similar challenges in mentoring children with special needs and at-risk youth, or in providing respite care to frail elders.
- Translating ad hoc by senior volunteers can be tiring and time-consuming, taking time away from other program goals. Having policies in place improves efficiency and overall management of the program.
- The inevitable misunderstandings and miscommunications that occur among people who do not speak the same language are reduced in number. Response time for staff to solve problems is shortened.
Posted On
June 23, 2004For More Information
Tom Reefe
Tri-County Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program
Director
234 Santa Cruz Avenue
Aptos,
CA
95003
Phone: (831) 475-0816
Fax: (831) 688-1225
Email: Lscc@cruzio.com