Code of Massachusetts Regulations
110 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Title 110 CMR 1.00 - Principles And Responsibilities Of The Department Of Social Services
Section 1.06 - Special Provisions Relating to Linguistic and Cultural Minorities
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
The Department recognizes the special concerns of linguistic and cultural minorities in the Commonwealth. The Department shall be responsive to issues of ethnic and cultural diversity by utilizing social workers who are attuned to ethnic and cultural values and traditions. The Department shall ensure that both the services it provides directly and those it provides through providers or contracts are culturally sensitive to the various minority groups in the client population. In addition, the Department shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that communications with every client, whether written or oral, are made in a language, or in a manner, that the client can understand. This requirement shall be satisfied as follows:
(1) The Department shall ensure that its social work activities are conducted by a social worker fluent in a language understood by the client. If such a person is unavailable, then the Department shall utilize an interpreter who can effectively communicate with the client.
(2) Deaf persons for whom American Sign Language is the primary language are rightly considered as a special linguistic minority population, and the Department shall utilize qualified oral or Sign Language interpreters who can effectively communicate with a deaf client.
(3) The Department shall ensure that any written communications from the Department to a client are in a language or a manner of communication that is understood by the client.
(4) Whenever a client is unable to read in any language, communications shall be made orally.
