CHIA’s Mission and History

The California Healthcare Interpreting Association is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to improving the quality and availability of language services in the delivery of healthcare.  The organization was founded as the California Healthcare Interpreters Association in 1996 by group of interpreters and program managers.  The name was changed in 2003 to Interpreting to better reflect CHIA’s mission of serving the public interest and interests of LEP patients, rather than serving as a strictly professional association of interpreters. 

CHIA’s diverse membership includes interpreters, physicians and other healthcare providers, hospitals, interpreting agencies and language-service companies, educators, and government policymakers.  Our mission is: ”Healthcare interpreters and providers working together to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers to high-quality care.” 

Over the years CHIA has received substantial support from The California Endowment.  We have also benefited from a variety of other supporters, including Molina Healthcare, Inc.; the Amgen Foundation; Language Line, Inc., the federal Office of Minority Health (via the National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare and Vista Community Clinic), and hundreds of individual and organizational members. 

Current projects and activities include:

• Sponsoring trainings and presentations at the regional chapter level.  CHIA currently has seven chapters:  San Diego, Los Angeles, Eastern Sierra, Central Valley, Sacramento, Bay Area, and Santa Rosa. 
• Holding annual two-day educational conference.
• Conducting LISTEN assessment of language services offered at  hospitals and clinics.
• Developing an online Healthcare Interpreter Registry to help interpreters present their credentials, and to help purchasers of interpreting services compare interpreter training and experience.
• Creating a long-term non-profit business plan
• Educating state lawmakers, regulators, and other policyholders about the importance of providing adequate language services.
• Publishing monographs, policy briefs, newsletters and updates.