The Rural Women’s Health Project’s mission is to use evidence-based strategies to build sustainable and replicable community programs and policies to strengthen communities’ capacity to overcome health and social justice barriers. Founded in 1991, the RWHP involves communities in the development and implementation of all aspects of our work. We seek to build the capacity of emerging leaders, create advocacy opportunities, build coalitions and improve linkage to health protective services. The RWHP provides language access primarily to Spanish-speaking community members, with increasing services in Mayan Indigenous languages and Haitian Creole when required by collaborating partners. For our work serving the Latinx community, documents are produced in Spanish and as required in English or Mayan Indigenous languages.

Communities Served:
The RWHP facilitates programming in Alachua, Marion, Putnam, Palm Beach, and Suwanee Counties.

• Our primary community served are Latinx immigrants
• Our secondary community served are women living with HIV In North Central Florida.

Languages of community members served:
The RWHP facilitates programming in Alachua, Marion, Putnam, Palm Beach, and Suwanee Counties.

• Primary - Spanish
• Secondary - English
• Tertiary – Mayan Indigenous languages (Mam, Kiche, Q’najob’al, Zapateco, Ixil, Mixteco Alto)
• Other – Haitian Creole

For work within our region, these languages are gathered as a result of a review of American Community Survey data showing the languages spoken in each county, how many residents speak it, and the number of people who have Limited English proficiency. To view the number of residents in the counties we serve who are Spanish speakers, see the table below.

RWHP’s Project SALUD collects data on its clients’ primary language and English proficiency. According to this data, 94% of SALUD’s clients are Low-English Proficient, and 87% speak Spanish as their primary language. The provision of Haitian-Creole materials is done when there are collaborations with partners requiring this assistance.

Service Plan for Limited English Speakers:
All Spanish-speaking clients are able to access services at RWHP via phone, social media, and text messaging. Access in other languages is provided through coordinated conversations, planned via Promotores or RWHP staff and community intermediaries.

• 75% of RWHP staff are multilingual English/Spanish, 50% of staff are fluent Spanish speakers.
• The RWHP has a fluent Spanish speaker on site at the RWHP office during office hours, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
• RWHP’s Project SALUD Referral line is available five days a week for Spanish Speakers, 9-5pm. A dedicated phone line receives calls with a Spanish language live speaker or message. Messages are reviewed and responded to within 48 hours by a bilingual associate.
• Project SALUD clients who are indigenous Mayan speakers and need interpretation are served through coordinated conversations which are scheduled. Preferred Source: Language Access Florida (Gainesville, FL) or MayanInterpreters.com
• Materials produced in Spanish are written or translated by fluent bilingual speakers or native-born Latino immigrants. Reviewed by a medical professional and then reviewed by a bilingual board member or third person.
• Educational materials produced in Mayan Indigenous languages are produced first in English or Spanish and then sent out for translation in Spanish to professional firms. Preferred Source: Language Access Florida (Gainesville, FL) or MayanInterpreters.com
• Educational materials produced in Haitian Creole are produced first in English or Spanish and then sent out for translation from English to professional firms for translation. Preferred source: Hybrid Translations (Gainesville, FL)
• Workshops curriculum are developed and presented in Spanish or English, depending on the audience. Didactic materials, follow up or outreach materials for Spanish speakers are translated by fluent bilingual speakers or native-born Latino immigrants. Reviewed by a medical professional and then reviewed by a bilingual board member or third person.

RWHP Texting Tool
The RWHP contracts texting services as a mechanism to provide critical announcements related to wellness and safety in Spanish as needed. All posts are provided in Spanish and written or translated by RWHP team members.

RWHP Social Media (Facebook and Instagram)
As the RWHP Facebook is seen as a tool to promote programming, with the intention of visibility by funders and local community members for donation purposes, media posts will be provided in the language of this community of financial providers, English.

Project SALUD social media Facebook
To better serve our majority Spanish speaking community, we provide messaging through our dedicated Spanish language Facebook page. All materials and posts are provided in Spanish. When possible, messaging is provided in Mayan Indigenous languages.

¹ Numbers based on 2020 American Community Survey, 5-year estimates:
B06007 PLACE OF BIRTH BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME AND ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH IN THE UNITED STATES