The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated vulnerable Massachusetts families, leaving thousands struggling to make ends meet and disproportionately impacting communities of color. People need access to essential government services to keep food on the table, stay safe and housed, receive unemployment benefits, and navigate this public health crisis.

Nearly 1 in 10 Massachusetts residents are limited English proficient, but the pandemic has laid bare our Commonwealth’s inability to provide desperately needed information and services in languages other than English.

The Language Access and Inclusion Act (H.3199/S.2040) would standardize and enforce language access policies and protocols at public-facing state agencies to ensure non-English speaking residents can access the services they need. Check out this fact sheet to learn more.

Massachusetts Appleseed recently released a full report detailing the failure of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide federally mandated language access to limited English proficient parents. As a result, limited English proficient parents cannot meaningfully comprehend or participate in the agency’s process and consequently face an increased likelihood of separation compared to their English-speaking counterparts. We need to defend the language access rights of limited English proficient residents and ensure state agencies like DCF are meeting the language needs of the populations they serve.

We’ve already started a message for you – click “Start Writing” above to add your own details and urge your State Representative and Senator to co-sponsor H.3199/S.2040. To get this legislation passed, we need to build strong support in the State House and we can’t do that without you. If your legislators have already co-sponsored H.3199/S.2040, please thank them for their support!

Thank you for standing with us!