Durham, N.C. – Now it is possible for Limited English
Proficient (LEP) families, whose primary language is Spanish, to learn how to
easily navigate the current Durham County Department of Social Services’ (DSS)
website. The updated website provides access to
information about programs and services critical to helping families meet basic
needs, and provide for the safety and well being of children and elderly and
disabled adults.
The new DSS
website provides information about all agency services and programs, including
service descriptions, eligibility requirements, how to make an application,
referral information for other programs, and supporting forms and
documents. The updated website
allows visitors to find links to other Spanish-language resources throughout the
website as well as employment opportunities with the agency.
To improve the
quality of the website overtime, DSS encourages website visitors to provide
feedback by completing the online Customer Service Survey.
Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that agencies and programs take steps to
ensure that federally-funded activities are accessible to all persons who are
not proficient, or are limited in their ability to communicate, in the English
language. DSS’ updated website is a
reflection of the agency’s work to ensure that LEP families can easily access
DSS’ programs and services. The
creation of the new website is part of a series of initiatives put into place
through a contract partnership between the North Carolina Latino Coalition and
Durham County DSS in 2006. Since that time DSS has doubled the number of
bilingual staff members working in the agency, translated over 100 documents
into Spanish, and created many of bilingual educational materials for
families.
Visit the Durham County DSS
website and click on the “Servicios Sociales de Durham,” link to access the
Spanish-language portion of the website.
For more information about the new website, contact Sharon Hirsch,
assistant director for Communication, Development and Customer Information, at
560-8059 or via e-mail at shirsch@durhamcountync.gov.
About the Department of Social
Services
The
mission of the Durham County Department of Social Services is to partner with
families and the community in achieving well being through prosperity,
permanence, safety and support. Our vision is a community where families achieve
well being. The Department provides
economic services programs including Work First, Medicaid, Child Support, Child
Day Care Subsidy and Food Stamps as well as social work services, including
Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoption, Adult Protective Services,
Group Care and Crisis Assistance.
To learn more about the services and programs offered by the Department,
visit the County’s website at: www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/dssv
