Language Support Services
Public Health is committed to providing services in the language you speak. We provide qualified interpreters upon request to ensure effective communication and accessibility.
Interpretation Services
Phone interpretation services are available for more than 240 languages, including Mixteco.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am - 5pm
To make an appointment, call one of our Public Health clinics.
California Relay services
California Relay services are for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. You can make a relay call with a Teletypewriter (TTY), Voice Carry Over (VCO), Hearing Carry Over (HCO), computer, webcam, or videophone.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am - 5pm
Who can use these services?
Any member of the public seeking Public Health services and information may use these services.
Is there a charge for these services?
Qualified interpreters and Relay services are available free of charge.
How do I access these services?
Make an appointment by contacting us at (805) 781-5500 or through our contact form.
Where are these services offered?
Interpretation and Relay services are available by telephone at all Public Health clinics and services.
FAQs
- Yes! Interpretation is available in 240 languages, including Mixteco.
- If you are making an appointment over the phone, indicate the language you speak when the call is initiated. An interpreter will be added to the call to help you communicate with your provider.
- If you arrive for your appointment and need language assistance, staff will have a language card where you can point to the language you speak. A qualified interpreter will be called to interpret for your appointment over the phone.
- To ensure availability, it is recommended that you request an interpreter 48 hours in advance. Appointments are preferred and prioritized; however, immediate calls are also accepted.
- Yes, qualified interpreters and Relay services are available free of charge.
- California Relay Services (CRS) can help you communicate with callers who have a hearing impairment. Deaf or hard-of-hearing clients may call in using CRS, where a specially-trained communications assistant will relay their conversation to you.
- This is a free public service and adheres to very strict confidentiality requirements governed by federal regulation. No part of the conversation will be recorded in written, verbal, or any other form.
- To place a call to an assistive phone (TTY, VCO, HCO, or other): Call 800-735- 2922 (English) or 800-855-3000 (Spanish) and give the area code and TTY number you wish to call.
- To receive a call: Clients can dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 from their teletypewriter (TTY) device (1-800-855-3000 for Spanish)
- After connecting, a communications assistant usually will ask, "Have you received a relay call before?" If not, the assistant will give a brief introduction on what to do during a relay call.
- Speak more slowly. The communications assistant has to type everything that the voice caller is saying.
- Speak directly to the other person. The communications assistant is just on the line to relay the call, not to direct the conversation.
- Use "go ahead" to indicate you are finished speaking. Say or type "go ahead" to let the client on the call know that it is their turn to speak.
- Use "stop keying" to indicate you would like to end the call. Both parties can signal that they are ready to hang up by saying or typing "stop keying."