Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 6 - Division of Family and Children's Services › Chapter 1 - DFCS Policy Manual › Section 18-6-1-I - Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Policy › Section 18-6-1-I-II - DEFINITIONS

Current through June 25, 2024
For the purpose of this policy, the terms listed below
					 shall have the following meaning:
* Client
is any person who inquires about or
					 is eligible to receive services under any MDHS-DFCS foster care and adoption
					 program or service.
* Bilingual/ Multilingual Staff
is a
					 MDHS-DFCS staff member who has demonstrated proficiency in English and at least
					 one other language, and who can interpret accurately, impartially, and
					 effectively to and from such language(s) and English using any specialized
					 terminology necessary for effective communication, but whose main job
					 responsibilities are other than interpretation. A MDHS-DFCS staff member who
					 only has a rudimentary familiarity with a language other than English, or who
					 has not demonstrated proficiency in that language and English, shall not be
					 considered "Bilingual/Multilingual Staff under this agreement.
* Volunteer
is any individual that performs
					 work or provides services on behalf of MDHS-DFCS without payment for their time
					 or services.
* Contractor
is any entity that provides
					 services directly to applicants or participants on behalf of MDHS-DFCS under a
					 contractual agreement, which includes monies allocated to MDHS-DFCS as Federal
					 financial assistance from HHS.
* Frequently-Encountered Language
is any
					 language spoken by a significant number or percentage of the population
					 eligible to be served to likely to be directly affected by MDHS-DFCS's programs
					 and services.
* Interpreter
is a person who has
					 demonstrated proficiency in both spoken English and at least one other
					 language; and who can interpret accurately, impartially, and effectively to and
					 from such language and English using any specialized terminology necessary for
					 effective communication; and who understands interpreter ethics and client
					 confidentiality needs. A person who has rudimentary familiarity with a language
					 other than English, or who has not demonstrated proficiency in that language
					 and English, is not to be considered an "interpreter" under this agreement.
* Language Assistance
is oral and written
					 language services needed to assist LEP individuals to communicate effectively
					 with MDHS-DFCS staff and contractors to provide LEP individuals with meaningful
					 access to, and an equal opportunity to participate fully in the services,
					 activities, programs or other benefits administered by MDHS-DFCS.
* Limited-English Proficient (LEP) Individual
is an individual who does not speak English as his or her primary language and
					 who has limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English in a manner
					 that permits him or her to communicate effectively with MDHS-DFCS and have
					 meaningful access to and participate fully in the services, activities,
					 programs, or other benefits administered by MDHS-DFCS.
* Participant
is any person who receives
					 services under any MDHS-DFCS foster care and adoption program.
* Primary Language
is the language that an
					 LEP individual identifies as the language that he or she uses to communicate
					 effectively, and is the language that the individual prefers to use to
					 communicate with MDHS-DFCS.
* Sub-recipient
is an entity that receives
					 Federal assistance which is received as a pass-through from MDHS-DFCS in order
					 to carry out a federally-funded program for participants in the same manner if
					 MDHS-DFCS if MDHS-DFCS were to administer the program directly, but does not
					 include an individual applicant or participant who is a beneficiary of the
					 program.
* Mississippi Automated Child Welfare Information
					 System (MACWIS)
is a case management system that allows caseworkers to
					 document casework activities across all stages of service delivery.
* Vital Documents
shall include, but are not
					 limited to: Documents that must be provided by law; Notices of Privacy
					 Practices; Consent and Release forms; Letters or notices for: visitation with
					 children, Family Team meetings, Reasonable Efforts or Foster Care Review
					 Conferences, referrals for services; Time-sensitive notices, including notices
					 of court appearances, child neglect or abuse investigation and or
					 litigation-related deadlines; Form or written material related to individual
					 rights; Notice of rights, requirements, or responsibilities; and Notices
					 regarding the availability of free language assistance services for LEP
					 individuals.