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Strategies to Promote Equitable Access to and Knowledge of Language Services in WNC (SPEAK-WNC)

Award Number: CPIMP221338
ORGANIZATION: OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH
OPDIV: DHHS/OS
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: DEMONSTRATION
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/03/2023

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Strategies to Promote Equitable Access to and Knowledge of Language Services in WNC (SPEAK-WNC) - The goal of this project, Strategies to Promote Equitable Access to and Knowledge of Language Services in WNC (SPEAK-WNC), is to work towards the elimination of health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations in Western North Carolina by increasing the access to language services in medical setting for people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. This will be achieved through expanding the Western Carolina Medical Society Interpreter Network (WIN), a program of the Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation. This outcomes-driven project aspires to demonstrate the impact of those efforts on advancing health equity, rigorously evaluate the process and outcomes measures that will indicate the project’s success and disseminate those findings widely through national and state donated care networks to benefit the field at large. This project will include a comprehensive Environmental Scan to assess the demographics, local policies, availability of language services, current strategies for serving individuals with LEP in the service area, and service gaps/areas for improvement. An internal review of WCMS Foundation and partners’ internal written policies and procedures will be conducted, and new policies and procedures will be developed as needed to ensure LEP and Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals are aware of their rights and protections under Title VI and the ADA. Key to the success of the initiative will be the partnerships with committed and varied partners from health care providers, county health departments, advocacy organizations, faith-based organizations, and an academic partner who will all support efforts such as recruitment, training, and impact dissemination. SPEAK-WNC will create and deliver an education and advocacy campaign for providers, patients, WCMS Foundation members, CBOs, and legislators to raise awareness of the importance and benefit of language services for LEP and Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons making healthcare decisions. WIN will be strategically expanded into in new service areas, at other types of medical providers, and in community organizations and local businesses. Three WIN staff members will be trained and licensed to conduct interpreter trainings in order to increase the availability of qualified interpreters in the Western North Carolina. The outcomes of this project will be widely disseminated to local, regional and national medical service providers and the public in order to contribute to expanding the quality of care for all patients and best practices in the field at large.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$504,867 )
2024	2023	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	02	2	3/19/2024	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	-$375,000
2024	2023	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	01	2	11/9/2023	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$0
2024	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	01	2	11/9/2023	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$0
2024	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	02	2	3/19/2024	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	-$129,867
														Subtotal = -$504,867

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $375,000 )
2023	2023	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	00	2	9/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$375,000
2023	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	03	1	9/29/2023	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$0
2023	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	00	2	9/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	02	1	2/17/2023	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$0
														Subtotal = $375,000

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $375,000 )
2022	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	01	1	9/30/2022	ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT ( + OR - ) (DISCRETIONARY OR BLOCK AWARDS)	$0
2022	2022	WESTERN CAROLINA MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION	304 SUMMIT ST	ASHEVILLE	NC	28803	BUNCOMBE	USA	Community Programs to Improve Minority Health	00	1	9/16/2022	NEW	$375,000
														Subtotal = $375,000

Grand Total All Awards = $245,133

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Strategies to Promote Equitable Access to and Knowledge of Language Services in WNC (SPEAK-WNC)

Award Number: CPIMP221338

ORGANIZATION: OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH

OPDIV: DHHS/OS

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: DEMONSTRATION

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/03/2023

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