Renarda Wesley, CRS

Ware County DFCS

P.O. Box 2048

Waycross, Georgia 31502

Phone: 912-285-6257

Fax: 912-287-6626

With the ongoing challenge of communicating with our limited English proficient and sensory impaired clients and to make this process more clear and a little less stressful for the case managers, the CRS created a LEP/SI desk reference guide. The enormous caseloads of the case managers didn’t allow much time for them to sift through all of the information concerning LEP/SI customers. The CRS thought it would be of benefit to streamline this information and include it in an at-a-glance reference guide for OFI case managers and supervisors. The desk guide includes: (1) LEP/SI procedures; (2) a copy of the list of LEP/SI client forms and notices available; (3) Instructions for filling out the LEP/SI Client Determination form, as well as a copy of the Client Determination Form; (5) Copies of the “I Speak Card”; (6) Waiver of Rights to Free Interpreter Services (English and Spanish); (7) Client Assurances (English and Spanish).

The CRS provided OFI staff and supervisors with the reference guide at the monthly unit meeting and trained staff on the proper LEP/SI procedures. Staff was very appreciative of reference guides provided stating that this gave them a better understanding of how to proceed and made the process much clearer for them. As additional information comes out and desk guides need to be updated, CRS will forward information to staff.