Bulletin September #01-06-01 7, 2001 Minnesota Department of Human Services # 444 Lafayette Rd. # St. Paul, MN 55155 OF INTEREST TO County Directors Human Services Administrators LEP Communities DHS restructures resources to strengthen support of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) effort TOPIC An overview of new LEP program, and structure and staff persons at DHS available as resources. PURPOSE Alert county staff and others to available resources. ACTION Please read and comply as appropriate. EFFECTIVE DATE September 30, 2001 CONTACT Paul Adalikwu LEP Manager Minnesota Department of Human Services 444 Lafayette Road St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-3837 (651) 297-3842 This information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by contacting us at (651) 296-7562 (Voice), (651) 296-8758 (TTY), or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529 or 1-877- 627-3848 (Speech-to-Speech Relay Service). SIGNED JEANETTE TAYLOR JONES Assistant Commissioner Economic and Community Support Strategies
Page 2 POLICY Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), and its implementing regulations, provide that no person will be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin under any program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance. The courts have held that Title VI prohibits recipients of Federal financial assistance from denying Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons access to programs, on the basis of their national origin. Language barriers may constitute national origin discrimination. The LEP Program at DHS is aimed at bringing Minnesota into compliance with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination by federally funded entities based on race, color, and national origin. In August 2000, the Office of Civil Rights from the US Department of Health and Human Services issued guidelines that require DHS ensure access to its programs through no cost language services for people with limited English skills. The requirement applies to counties, those that receive federal funds to provide medical and other social services, and contractors. The primary objective of DHS LEP program is to provide spoken and written services to individuals whose lack of English skills prevent them from accessing health and human services. The accompanying management structure provides an overview of the program s management consisting of staff persons from three administrations, in addition to the core LEP members in the Adult Supports Division. BACKGROUND The information in this bulletin is provided to inform appropriate individuals of staffing and management of LEP functions in the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Earlier Bulletins on the LEP Program can be found at: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/fmo/legalmgt/bulletins http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/fmo/legalmgt/bulletins/pdf/2000/00-89-04.pdf http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/fmo/legalmgt/bulletins/pdf/01-89-01.pdf STRUCTURE AND STAFF PERSONS An overview of structure I. The Adult Supports Division manages the Limited English Proficiency Program in DHS. The responsibilities include program planning, policy development and implementation, management of DHS multilingual phone referral lines, review of county LEP plans, as well as managing the FY 2002-03 budget.
Page 3 Another critical component of the LEP responsibility managed by Adult Supports Division is the community outreach initiative. The LEP Program is staffed by: Paul Adalikwu Leila Farah LEP Manager LEP Consultant Adult Support Division (651) 215-0605 444 Lafayette Road North St. MN 55155-3837 (651) 297-2842 II. The Office for Equal Opportunity manages agency wide LEP civil rights policies, monitoring and compliance, complaint resolution and training. This includes policies covering DHS, counties and other federally funded human service providers. The EO Office also acts as liaison and coordinates implementation of the settlement agreement with Mid Minnesota Legal Assistance. Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) Mary Jean Turinia-Anderson 444 Lafayette Road North Director St. Paul, MN 55155-3812 (651) 296-3510 Main: (651) 296-7562 Fax: (651)297-7981 TTY: (651)296-8758 Joann dasilva Kazoua Kong-Thao Civil Rights Coordinator LEP Consultant (651) 296-0420 (651) 215-1278 III. The Management Services Division is responsible for policy and operations in implementing aspects of the LEP program in DHS which include the process of developing and distributing forms and documents, in various languages. Management Services is also responsible for the development and operation of telecommunication technologies required to support LEP. In Management Services, the LEP Program is staffed by: Linda M. Nelson, Director Lisa M. Nelson, LEP Coordinator Management Services Division (651) 282-5082 (651) 296-6633
Page 4 In addition, an LEP liaison team assists the three areas with shared responsibilities for implementing the LEP Program. Liaison team members represent their administration areas and advise and support implementation of the LEP Plan. The team members include: Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) Mary Jean Turinia Anderson (651) 296-3510 Joann DaSilva (651) 296-0420 Kazoua Kong-Thao (651) 215-1278 Management Services (MS) Linda Nelson (651) 296-6633 Lisa Nelson (651) 282-5082 Economic & Community Support Strategies (ECSS) Paul Adalikwu (651) 297-3942 Tim Horn (651) 296-4411 Leila Farah (651) 215-0605 Mayjoua Ly (651) 282-9817 Health Care Larry Kontio (651) 282-6964 Deb Villareal (651) 793-3825 Deb Bachrach (651) 297-1380 Children s Services Mark Toogood (651) 215-1076 Patricia Ray (651) 297-2468 Finance and Management Operations Michael McMahon (651) 297-2001 Continuing Care/Aging Initiative Munna Yasiri (651) 297-1920 Jennifer Lowman (651) 297-1624 State Operated Services Support Bonnie Lee (651) 215-0187 Tom Ruter (651) 634-5106 Commissioner s Office Cynthia Hendricks (651) 215-0068
Page 6 ACTIONS Questions concerning specific LEP issues may be directed to the LEP Manager or appropriate staff person listed in this bulletin. SPECIAL NEEDS Upon request, this information will be made available in an alternative format, such as Braille, large print, or audio tape. For TTD, call 651/282-5436 or contact the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800/627-3529.