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Receive Update on Building Integrated Communities Initiative and Provide Input on Draft Language Access Plan.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Loryn Clark, Executive Director |
Housing and Community |
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Sarah Osmer Viñas, Assistant Director |
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Megan Peters, Community Connections Coordinator |
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Overview: Tonight, we are providing Council an update on the Building Integrated Communities (BIC) Initiative and seeking input on the draft Language Access Plan. BIC is a multi-year collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill dedicated to strengthening the Town’s engagement of immigrant and refugee residents. |
Recommendation:
That the Council receive this update on the BIC initiative and provide input on the draft Language Access Plan.
Overview of the Building Integrated Communities (BIC):
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BIC is a multi-year planning process that helps North Carolina local governments successfully engage with immigrant and refugee residents to improve relationships, enhance communication, and promote civic participation and leadership in local government. The BIC project aligns with the Town's goal to make Chapel Hill a Place for Everyone. |
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Project Process & Progress to Date: Since the summer of 2017, an interdepartmental team led by our Housing and Community staff worked with the UNC BIC Team on the three-phase project.
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1. Community Assessment <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=40713> (September 2017 - August 2018) |
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§ In the first phase of BIC, staff established a steering committee to guide the project, conduct research, and engage immigrant and refugee residents to deepen our understanding of the experiences and key issues for immigrants and refugees in Chapel Hill. |
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§ The Community Assessment <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=40829> summarizes what we learned, including a demographic profile and key issues. |
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Action Planning <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=41909> (August 2018 - January 2019) |
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§ In the second phase of BIC, the Steering Committee developed a detailed plan for the five key issue areas in the Community Assessment: public transportation, housing, public safety and law enforcement, leadership, and government communication. Town staff shared the Action Plan <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=41909> with the Council and community in February 2019 <https://chapelhill.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3863864&GUID=21E074E6-B13E-463C-9457-A0E64D05A508&FullText=1>. |
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3. Implementation (February 2019 - onward) |
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§ In this final phase of BIC, the Implementation Team prioritized the strategies from the Action Plan and began executing the short-term strategies. Our timeline and progress are described in the attached BIC Action Plan Implementation Report. |
Language Access Plan (LAP):
§ Over the past six months, the BIC Implementation Team prioritized the development of a Town-wide Language Access Plan (LAP), consistent with Strategy 10.1 of the Action Plan: Create a Town-wide Language Access Plan, in partnership with community organizations serving residents with low English proficiency, with particular focus on language justice and legal compliance.
§ A LAP outlines policies and procedures to provide the most effective services for limited English proficient (LEP) residents. The federal government requires that organizations that receive federal funding take reasonable steps to ensure access to services for LEP individuals, which is typically articulated through a LAP.
§ The BIC Implementation Team developed a draft LAP that includes language access policies and procedures related to: 1) language assistance services, and 2) employee training and incentive.
§ Staff proposes Town-wide implementation of the LAP.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: Staff estimate the total cost of LAP implementation to be: $23,600 in FY20, $26,500 in FY21, and $28,500 in FY22 (see attachment). There are sufficient resources available in this year’s budget (FY20) within Housing and Community and Police to implement the proposed LAP. Resource needs for LAP implementation in FY21, FY22, and beyond could be considered during the budget process. Staff will continue to explore opportunities for leveraging funding from private foundations to support LAP implementation, should the Town move forward with implementation.
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Attachments: |
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• Draft Staff Presentation |
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• Draft Town of Chapel Hill Language Access Plan |
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• LAP Draft Budget |
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• BIC Action Plan Implementation Timeline and Progress Report |
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
PRESENTER: Sarah Osmer Viñas, Assistant Director
Megan Peters, Community Connections Coordinator
Dr. Hannah Gill, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The purpose of this item is to provide an update on the Building Integrated Communities Initiative and provide input on the draft Language Access Plan.