Kane County Launches Free Behavioral Health Interpreter Training

The Kane County Health Department has announced the launch of two free specialized training sessions aimed at enhancing communication for individuals who speak English as a second language. These sessions are designed for interpreters and healthcare providers to foster better understanding and care in behavioral health settings. The training will take place at the Kane County Regional Office of Education, located at 28 N. First St., Geneva, Illinois.

Michael Isaacson, Executive Director of the Kane County Health Department, emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating, “These trainings address a critical need in behavioral health – ensuring that language barriers never become barriers to care.” The department aims to equip both interpreters and service providers with essential skills to offer stronger and more inclusive services.

Training Details and Objectives

The first training session is a comprehensive two-day program, running from September 2 to September 3, 2023, from 08:30 to 17:00 each day. This 14-hour training will focus on immersive instruction in the principles and practices of interpreter communication specifically tailored for behavioral health contexts. Participants must demonstrate fluency in a language other than English to qualify for this session.

The training is open to a wide range of participants, including direct service staff, clinicians, administrative support staff, community members, contractors, consumers, and case managers who regularly use their bilingual abilities to assist agencies.

A second session, scheduled for September 4, 2023, from 08:30 to 15:30, will be a seven-hour training aimed at teaching effective collaboration with interpreters in behavioral health environments. This session will cover various topics, including communication styles, cultural context, and strategies for improving care for clients whose primary language is not English.

Registration and Participation

Interested individuals can register online at the provided Google Docs link. Each session is limited to 40 participants to ensure a focused and effective learning environment.

These training sessions are part of the Kane County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Systems Improvement Initiatives, which aim to address gaps in service delivery and enhance the overall quality of care for diverse populations. For more information, visit the Kane County Health Department’s official website at www.kanehealth.com.

As the demand for bilingual services continues to grow, initiatives like these are vital in ensuring equitable access to behavioral health care for all community members.