INTERPRETATION

If you or someone you know needs help speaking with an advocate, social worker, case manager or another person who provides critical information to your well-being or ability to access services, contact the Red Cross. Our volunteers are available over the phone and in person to provide language interpretation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

All language interpretations are free for individuals and community-based organizations that provide vital services and basic needs in our community. Our vision is to work together to promote the health, safety, welfare and dignity of all by facilitating access for limited and non-English speakers to American Red Cross services and the services of our community partner agencies. 

If your organization is interested in becoming a Language Bank Partner, please contact us to schedule a meeting. As a community partner, your agency can enjoy the following:

• In-person and over-the-phone interpretations by over 300 volunteers who together speak 60 languages
• Access to bilingual social service glossaries in our top languages (Spanish, Somali, Russian, Chinese and Vietnamese)
• Monthly International Services e-newsletter and Language Bank Tips
• Community disaster education for your clients (also offered in multiple languages)
• Workplace disaster preparedness training for your organization

Language interpretation and translation policies

AVAILABLE LANGUAGES FOR INTERPRETATION & TRANSLATION

These languages are those for which we most frequently provide interpretation and translation. Please note that this list is not complete and changes often based on the availability of our volunteers and the needs of the community. If you would like to request a language that is not on this list, please inquire; we can accommodate special requests on a case-by-case basis.

Amharic

Arabic

Cambodian

Cantonese

Chinese

Farsi/Dari/Persian
French
German
Hindi
Japanese
Kirundi
Kiswahili
Korean
Laotian
Mandarin
Oromo
Polish
Portuguese
Punjabi
Pushtu
Russian
Somali
Spanish
Tagalog
Thai
Tigrigna
Toishanese
Ukrainian
Vietnamese