During the last several years the number and diversity of ethnic communities with limited English proficiencies in the state of Texas has increased dramatically.This development posed challenges and concerns to the health care delivery system requiring the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate services

In 1996, the Texas Department of Health granted Alliance for Multicultural Community Services (AMCS) funding to create an innovative language interpretation & translation program to best serve the needs of Houston's limited English and non-English speaking residents. Upon receiving this funding, AMCS's Health Care Interpreter Program was established that later expanded its services to cover social services, education, and legal fields.

Since inception of our program, we have provided communication across language barriers through our translations and community interpreting to more than 80 different clients in Houston and its surrounding areas. We provide our services in 70 languages for educational, social, legal and medical fields in an ethical, respectful, professional, and conscientious manner which meets or exceeds the expectations of our consumers. As a non-profit committed to assisting the underserved, these services are provided at no cost to the clients and at a low cost to the providers.

Over the last thirteen years, The Alliance has provided no-cost, quality, trained health care interpretation services to over 28,000 limited English proficient clients.

Currently we offer training of language professionals and for groups and agencies on the roles, responsibilities and professional ethics of working with qualified interpreters.

To provide high quality communication across language barriers to all our clients; To help Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals understand and make informed decisions about their educational, legal, social & medical care; to collaborate with the local stakeholders to expand access to affordable, quality health care for under served individuals and communities of Houston and Texas at large; and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Texans.

• We have professionally interpreted and translated in 81 languages since 1996.
• We have our loyal customers stay and grow with us.
• We guarantee client confidentiality and the accuracy in all of our interpreting services.
• Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America.
• We have served clients from six out of the seven world continents.
• We believe in continuing education and professionalism.
• We are a non-profit agency and provide quality communications across language barriers with client in mind and community service at heart versus for-profit businesses that charge much more for same services.

Our interpreters are the voice for your multilingual customers and the communication medium between your customers and service representatives. That voice must be accurate, clear, and precise. That voice must also consistently demonstrate the ability to accurately conserve the meaning of a source language when rendering it into English—at an efficient pace without omissions or additions. That’s the goal of AMCS’s Language Without Boundaries basic interpreter training program, which culminates in advanced-level certification opportunities.

• Recruitment of Interpreters: Our Health Care interpreter program recruits qualified interpreters from the communities that we serve. Our pool of interpreters consists of well-respected community leaders from different professional backgrounds that span various disciplines, including the health and social service arena. All applicants have to complete an intensive screening process that begins with the submission of a resume, completed application form and background check. Potential interpreters are invited to a face-to-face meeting that facilitates an exchange of information. Applicants have an opportunity to learn more about our program while we assess their interest and experience. The personal interview is followed by a 2.5-hour proficiency exam that evaluates each candidate in five areas: General Knowledge; Grammar and Vocabulary; Medical terminology; Translation (written); Interpretation (oral) All proficiency exams evaluate a candidate’s proficiency level in English and in the target language. Applicants who pass their proficiency exams are required to complete a health care interpreter training conducted by program manager. Our training curriculum is anywhere from 24-60 hour training session.
• Training for Interpreters: The purpose of the training is to provide bilingual participants with a combination of teaching methods and materials, including lectures, videos, large group discussions, small group activities, role-plays, research and homework. The training curriculum supports national ethics and standards of practice. The course covers ethics, interpreter roles, basic skills (from pre-session to post-session), positioning and terminology, modes of interpreting, steps for sight translation, cultural mediation, and other vital skills. In addition, the program offers an overview of the profession and discusses interpreter certification. This dynamic, interactive program emphasizes skills building, role plays, small group work, video vignettes, discussion and case studies which provide hands-on experience for skills development.

According to latest US Census, more than 46 million people, or approximately 17 percent of the U.S. population, speak a language other than English in their homes, a number that is projected to increase in the coming decades. For this growing portion of the population, poor communication while accessing social & healthcare services can result in serious consequences.

• Assure effective communication between both the Limited English Proficient (LEP) client and the provider.
• Reduce liability, help ensure appropriate utilization, increase client compliance and satisfaction with services.
• Effective use of time during the clinical encounter.
• Ensure better understanding and follow-ups to all services Improved outcomes for the client.

The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, formerly Refugee Services Alliance, is a United Way agency that was incorporated in 1986 as a Texas 501 C (3) non-profit organization. The agency serves to assist refugees, immigrants, and other low-income residents of Harris County in becoming self-sufficient and improving their quality of life. To this end, The Alliance provides free comprehensive community development services, health education programs, and social services to individuals and families through linguistic competent and culturally sensitive programs that are designed to empower individuals, families and communities to succeed.