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As with every relationship, the most rewarding ones tend to be those in which the philosophy of giving and receiving is wholeheartedly embraced. At CHIA, we believe that each of our members come to us with precious and unique life experience, skills and expertise. CHIA is eager to receive what you have to offer, so don’t be shy about telling us.

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 NCC aims for Certification Standards – The National Coalition for Healthcare Interpreter Certification last week agreed to explore the development of standards for a certification process.  The move aims the Coalition’s focus on developing a certification process that includes criteria for adequate testing instruments. 

 At a meeting Sept. 20-21 in Minneapolis, the Coalition endorsed elements of a proposal brought forth by CyraCom representative Jonathan Levy.  Under the proposal, the NCC would establish a neutral, expert body that would evaluate and qualify existing tests to serve as certification vehicles. 

 Board President Elizabeth Nguyen and Executive Director Don Schinske represented CHIA at the two-day meeting.  The NCC’s various committees will continue their respective work on developing all aspects of a certification process.  CHIA will be organizing the next in-person meeting of the full 18-organization Coalition, which will be held Jan. 22-34 at The California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities in Los Angeles.

 President Nguyen and Virginia Pérez-Santalla of the American Translators Association will present on the Coalition’s work at the ATA Conference Nov. 5-8 in Orlando, Florida.

Click here for the formal report from the NCC’s Minneapolis meeting

Promotion of CHIA Standards trainings – CHIA Education Committee Co-Chairs Linda Okahara and Carmen Castro-Rojas, with Immediate Past President Katharine Allen, are presenting on the CHIA Standards Training program this week at the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) Conference in Boston. 

 In addition, Executive Director Schinske exhibited at the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) conference last week in Ontario, California, to invite clinics and community health centers to offer the Standards trainings in their facilities. 

 As part of CHIA’s promotional and education efforts around the trainings and SB 853 compliance, Okahara, Nai Kasick of LA Care, and President Nguyen have been participating in conference calls with representatives from the State’s managed care plans.  The calls, which are hosted by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, have been prompted by the State Dept of Managed Health Care, which wants health plans to learn what information and resources are at their disposal as they improve their language services as required under new state regulations. 

CHIA is encouraging its local chapters to pilot the Standards Trainings with CHIA members at their meetings through the remainder of the year.  For more information on the CHIA Standards Training program, please contact Don Schinske in the CHIA office, (916) 444-1506 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mark Your Calendars:  CHIA 2009 Conference Dates -- CHIA’s Ninth Annual Education Conference, “Setting the Stage for Success:  California Adopts the CHIA Standards - Are you Ready?” has been set for Friday and Saturday, March 20-21, at the Crown Plaza Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto.  This year’s conference will be one of CHIA’s best, with a beautiful location near Stanford University and site visits to Stanford Hospital.  Information on the hotel is available at www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/SFOCA/welcome.  We will circulate more information for presenters, vendors, and attendees soon. 

Helping to organize the conference this year will be Liz Helms, a public relations expert, health advocate, event planner, and chair of the California Chronic Care Coalition.  Helms will be assisting CHIA in additional capacities as well.