NEW YORK (July 10, 2023) -- On Thursday, the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) released “Community Review of Translations: Guide for Incorporating a Community Review Process for Translated Materials,” a new guide aimed at both public and private entities across industries who intend to create culturally responsive materials in languages other than English.

Currently, over 800 languages are spoken throughout New York City, yet many New Yorkers still struggle to receive accurate, timely, and culturally accessible information in a language they understand. Throughout our work to increase language access – which is defined as working to ensure Limited English Proficient (LEP) people can reasonably expect to receive the same services and quality of services as those fluent in English – CACF has found that it is essential to  intentionally engage the community throughout the translation process.

The 10 step guide, leads users step-by-step through the ideation and translation process, with detailed phrases covering the importance of identifying an organization’s translation goals, building relationships with potential community partners, the initial translation and review process, and more. The new “Community Review of Translations” guide was created after engaging in multiple projects for multi-language material development through intentional community collaboration to address New York City’s growing need for materials that target the state’s immigrant and limited English proficient populations.

“All New Yorkers, including immigrant New Yorkers, should be able to obtain clear and accurate information regardless of the language they speak. CACF believes that community voice is integral to ensure that information is culturally responsive and language accessible. This guide provides a roadmap to meaningful partnership between government and community in creating translated messaging, an important component to ensuring language justice,” said CACF’s Co-Executive Directors Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung. 

“In our work around language access, we have found that many Limited English Proficient (LEP) New Yorkers  still report facing difficulties like being unable to fill out paperwork because a translated version in their language does not exist,” says CACF’s Senior Policy Coordinator for Health Medha Ghosh. “As the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families advocacy organization, CACF listens to and amplifies the voices of AAPI families and communities – now over 18% and growing in New York City and over 11% of New York State – which are too often misunderstood or erased. This new guide will facilitate the creation of more accurate and effective information to New Yorkers.”

The creation of “Community Review of Translations: Guide for Incorporating a Community Review Process for Translated Materials,” would not have been possible without our collaborative partners at Access Health NYC (a City Council Citywide Initiative), the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition, and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum Forging Partnerships project.

To download the full guide, please head here.

For more information, please contact Lakshmi Gandhi, CACF’s Senior Communications Coordinator, at lgandhi@cacf.org.