Both the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 require the elimination of barriers based on race, color, and national origin in federally assisted programs or activities. Many communities throughout the country contain significant concentrations of language-minority individuals, and the need for multi-lingual services in those communities poses great challenges for equitable provision of workforce development services. As the Department of Labor (DOL) has stated, "the inability to speak or understand English should not exclude individuals from programs and activities, or cause either denials of services or assistance based on inaccurate or incomplete information."

Accordingly, BPA and partners are developing a Technical Assistance Guide that will provide examples of successful strategies and tools for providing services to customers with limited English proficiency, along with materials and training that will assist State and Local programs in developing effective services for LEP individuals. The guide and materials will be distributed to DOL grant recipients, as well as posted at DOL Employment and Training Administration's website (www.doleta.gov).