September 30th, 2009 - A third of Nevada Hispanic households lack member fluent in English

One in three Hispanic households in Nevada continue to be linguistically isolated, according to U.S. Census Bureau information released Tuesday.

The Census Bureau defines a linguistically isolated household as one in which no one 14 or older is fluent in English. Nevada ranks fifth nationally, with 33.7 percent of Spanish households having anyone over 14 fluent in English.

Latino community leaders say some English-language classes are available, but most public agencies offer Spanish-language translation by staff and with literature and signage. Spanish-speaking customers are more comfortable in businesses where that languiage is spoken, said Mario Mariscal, president of La Cooperativa de Familias Unidas (United Families Co-operative) in Reno. “There is the (Spanish) language used at home but (learning English) is another thing we need to work on,” Mariscal said. University of Nevada, Reno students volunteer to teach English to residents through La Cooperativa.

While La Cooperativa and other agencies offer English classes, Marcos Pico, a research assistant at UNR’s Latino Research Center, said a small amount of funding for such programs will only increase the number of linguistically isolated households. “The numbers will increase unless grant-based schools are spread out more,” Pico said. “It’s a problem that hasn’t been addressed as it should.” Hospitals and health clinics including Renown Regional Medical Center, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center and the Health Access Washoe County Community Health Center have bilingual personnel and offer translation services and Spanish-language medical forms.

“We want to make sure the patients can understand what doctors say to them about medical procedures and decisions so they feel comfortable,” said Nicole Shearer, a Renown spokeswoman. Law enforcement agencies said building trust with Spanish-speaking residents is the goal of community outreach efforts. “We try to let everyone know we’re not interested in their legal status if they’re the victim of a crime, but rather solving that crime,” Reno police Chief Mike Poehlman said. “Some people may come from countries where there is a general distrust of government so we see that issue and have to deal with it here.” 

Reserve Deputy Carlos Bonilla handles Hispanic outreach for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and translates releases to send to the La Voz Hispana De Nevada newspaper for an ongoing column. “We make clear that we’re here to serve all citizens of Washoe County and that we’re not immigration officers even though we have green uniforms like the Border Patrol,” Bonilla said.

A class for individuals caught driving under the influence in Spanish is held monthly and a citizens academy is available for Spanish-speaking residents, he said. “The community is more receptive to us and they are pleased we try to reach them,” Bonilla said.

Other local outreach efforts, programs and services for Spanish speakers include:

o The Washoe County School District has a Hispanic liaison specialist.

o The county emergency management agency has recorded public service announcements in Spanish.

o Senior Services and Reno Parks and Recreation Department are working to invite Hispanic seniors to attend the Neil Road Community Center and use a new congregate meal site that opens Sept. 24.

o The county public defender office has sponsored a full-day training program regarding the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction, moderated by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. The office has developed a Spanish-language frequently asked questions Web site.

o Washoe County libraries have Spanish language and bilingual materials for adults, children and teens, English-language learning materials, bilingual story time at select libraries. The Community Resource Center at the Sierra View Library provides English as a Second Language and Genera; Equivalency Dilploma preparation, employment and educational opportunities, other assistance and referrals.

o The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension works with other local agencies to offer The Family Storyteller, a family literacy program aimed at getting parents and children together around literacy and language activities. The extension program also teach classes on best management practices at Lake Tahoe for Spanish-speaking landscaping workers.

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Originally published in the September 22, 2009 edition of RGJ.com, the online edition of the Reno Gazette-Journal.

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