08-R333
2008 -- S 3136
Enacted 06/19/08
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
DISCOURAGING THE USE
OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AS LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
Introduced By: Senators
Pichardo, Miller, C Levesque, Goodwin, and Perry
Date Introduced: June 19,
2008
WHEREAS,
Many Rhode Islanders accessing services such as medical, legal, or social
assistance
are non-English speakers and require language interpreters; and
WHEREAS,
In the absence of qualified language interpreters, it has become all too
common
for service providers to use children as translators for their parents to
provide an
immediate
solution to communication problems; and
WHEREAS,
Many experts believe that children lack the vocabulary skills and emotional
maturity
to serve as effective interpreters; and
WHEREAS,
Young children serving as interpreters are exposed to discussions and
information
that is often beyond their comprehension, or that is inappropriate for, or
unseemly to,
children;
and
WHEREAS,
The involvement of children as translators is difficult, both for the child and
for
the associated adults, and may lead to an agency, organization, entity, or
program being
misinformed
as a result of a child's ignorance or embarrassment; and
WHEREAS,
Particularly in medical service settings, child interpreters are asked to
shoulder
a heavy emotional responsibility, are made privy to confidential information
about their
parents.
They can be the first family member to learn of a serious illness, and may be
required to
be
the person delivering devastating medical news to their loved ones; and
WHEREAS,
Depending on a young child to translate sensitive information about medical
or
legal problems can hurt the parent-child relationship and traumatize the child;
and
WHEREAS,
A variety of critical responsibilities begin at the age of 18 in this country,
including
the ability to serve in the United States Armed forces, vote in elections, or
be legally
considered
an adult; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
hereby
encourages, whenever possible, the use of qualified foreign language
interpreters in
medical,
legal, or social service settings, in order to discourage the practice of using
children
below
the age of 18 as language translators; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to the director of the Rhode Island
Department of
Human
Services, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, the John Hope
Settlement
House, the director of Rhode Island Kids Count, the Center for Hispanic Policy
and
Advocacy,
the Progresso Latino Organization, the Providence Youth Student Movement, and
the
South
East Asian Development Corporation.
=======
LC03141
=======