As part of the City of Boise’s Limited English Proficiency Assessments (LEP), the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) has developed the following plan to provide meaningful access to its services for LEP populations. The plan will be updated biennially.
Parks and Recreation LEP Assessment and Plan
Four Factor Analysis
- The number or proportion of LEP persons served or encountered in the eligible service population. The number or proportion of LEP persons encountered is the same as that in the general population of the City of Boise.
- The frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with the program. Parks primarily has contact with LEP individuals through Parks’ various activities, ranging from summer camps to figure skating. Employees have on average six to seven encounters with LEP individuals a month. Four Parks employees surveyed indicate that they have ten or more contacts per month with LEP individuals. In addition, Parks works with the Idaho Office of Refugees and helps arrange transportation to and from special events for LEP families.
- The nature and importance of the program, activity or service provided by the recipient to people’s lives. Many of Parks’ programs are important to LEP individuals, as several of Parks’ activities specifically focus on LEP youth and their integration into Boise. The ability to continue to improve these services to the LEP community is important to Parks’ staff.
- The resources available to the recipient and the costs. Parks has “I Speak” language cards available at front desks and will provide them at each of its facilities (golf courses, IceWorld, Zoo, etc.). Currently, Parks has seven bilingual employees who speak Spanish or Serbo/Croatian. The Department also has an account with Language Line Solutions to provide telephone translations and uses the Boise Police Department Interpreter Program, for in-person, over the phone, and document translations. Additionally, Google translate has been installed for use on the Department’s website.
Department Plan
Identifying Individuals Who Need Assistance
Parks frequently surveys its staff for instances of direct or indirect contact with LEP individuals. Parks also works closely with the Idaho Office for Refugees to better help LEP refugees integrate into the community and understand all of the services that the City of Boise offers. Parks also has “I Speak” language cards available at its front counters and at its facilities.
Language Assistance Measures
Parks frequently surveys its staff for instances of direct or indirect contact with LEP individuals. Parks also works closely with the Idaho Office for Refugees to better help LEP refugees integrate into the community and understand all of the services that the City of Boise offers. Parks also has “I Speak” language cards available at its front counters and at its facilities.
Training Staff
In addition to the training provided by the City, Parks will ensure that its staff understands its Title VI LEP responsibilities. Staff will also receive specific training on what language assistance services the City of Boise offers and specific procedures to be followed when encountering LEP persons.
Providing Notice to LEP Persons
Parks will continue to locate “I Speak” cards at the front counter, and to provide a notice on written public materials that language assistance is available upon request. Parks will continue to work closely with the Idaho Office for Refugees to ensure that services are available to LEP individuals and to better understand the needs of Boise’s LEP/refugee community and how to best fulfill those needs.
Monitoring and Updating the LEP Plan
Parks will monitor and update this plan on a regular basis, but not less than triennially. At minimum, Parks will examine how many LEP persons were encountered and determine if their needs were met. Parks will also continue to review its documents to determine if any of them should be translated into other languages and to determine if more program-specific outreach should be undertaken. It will also look at any complaints received and learn how to better serve the LEP population through those complaints.
Send a Message to Human Resources
Please fill out the form and a representative from the City of Boise's Human Resources department will be in touch with you.