On November 15, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a comprehensive language access plan to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) have access to the resources, programs, and activities offered by the department. This plan comes on the one-year anniversary of the Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s language access memorandum to federal agencies.
The language access plan is the result of the USDA’s commitment to provide equal access to its programs and services to individuals with LEP. The plan outlines the steps the agency will take to ensure that individuals with LEP have access to the same resources and services as individuals with proficient English skills.
The plan includes a variety of measures to ensure that individuals with LEP have access to the same services as those with proficient English skills. These measures include providing language assistance services, such as interpreters and translations, to individuals with LEP. The plan also requires the USDA to provide information in languages other than English on its website, in its publications, and in its outreach material.
The language access plan also requires the USDA to provide training to staff members on how to effectively communicate with individuals with LEP. This training will include instruction on how to provide language assistance services, how to provide information in multiple languages, and how to ensure that individuals with LEP understand the services and resources available to them.
The language access plan is an important step in ensuring that individuals with LEP have access to the same resources and services as those with proficient English skills. The plan will help ensure that the USDA is able to effectively serve individuals with LEP and provide them with the resources and services they need.
The language access plan is a testament to the USDA’s commitment to providing equal access to its programs and services to individuals with LEP. The plan will help ensure that individuals with LEP have access to the same resources and services as those with proficient English skills. This plan is an important step in ensuring that the USDA is able to effectively serve individuals with LEP and provide them with the resources and services they need.
