Overcoming Language Barriers: Enhancing Access to County Services for All Residents
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As counties become increasingly diverse, there has been a significant rise in the number of languages spoken within communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20 percent of Americans are now bilingual or multilingual. As county residents engage with local government services, language barriers can present a challenge when accessing essential resources, such as scheduling appointments, obtaining documents, seeking information or registering for events. While counties work diligently at the local level to address these barriers, a gap still exists between the services provided by county governments and the needs of multilingual populations.
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