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FRAMINGHAM – The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center will receive $1 million for its interpreter services program from the federal government
The health center has locations in Worcester and in Framingham.
The $1 million was part of $138 million in Congressionally Directed Spending in the Fiscal Year 2022 spending bill for 120 important community projects throughout Massachusetts announced by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Chair Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Chairman James P. McGovern (MA-02), Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and the rest of the delegation.
Through its comprehensive Interpreter Services program, the Edward M. Kennedy Health Center is able to interpret the more than 90 languages its patients speak.
At last count, more 75% of the 340 providers and staff are bilingual and over 15% of those are trilingual, according to the Center.
Most speak Spanish and/or Portuguese, the two most common languages our patients speak other than English.
Staff speak more than 30 additional languages as well such as Albanian, Arabic, Farsi, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Russian, etc, according to the Center’s website.
This federal funding for Massachusetts means we can initiate, strengthen, and expand community-based projects that serve our families, businesses, and cities and towns every day,” said Senator Markey. “These projects will spur our economy, strengthen our resiliency, expand access to important health care, promote clean energy and climate solutions, and help feed and house our most vulnerable in every region of our Commonwealth. I am proud that my delegation partners and I were able to secure this critical funding, and I will continue to fight for the resources Massachusetts communities need to thrive and grow.”
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“The Massachusetts delegation and I have been fighting hard for additional federal investments for the Commonwealth, and I’m glad we secured nearly $138 million to help tackle our communities’ most pressing needs. These funds will deliver critical projects and services across the Commonwealth that will improve our infrastructure, spur the economy, and enhance clean energy, housing, education, and social service initiatives. I will keep fighting to deliver federal resources to help Massachusetts families,” said Senator Warren.
“Because there are a growing number of refugee populations resettling in our region, the Kennedy Community Health is committed to understanding and meeting the needs of people that experience linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing health care. One of two providers of required refugee health assessments in Central Massachusetts, we are the first health care provider these individuals see and many stay on to become our patients. They come from over 19 different parts of the world including Bhutan, Burundi, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia and Sudan,” stated the Center’s website. “We provide medical interpreters for each patient who needs care in a language other than English. Written materials are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and some materials, including signage, are provided through pictures and/or diagrams.It is our mission to empower our patients to overcome barriers to living healthy lives.”
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“I am thrilled to announce that I have secured federal funding for ten Community Projects throughout the Fifth District in this year’s budget package. These investments are a direct response to the needs of our local community. We are improving our climate readiness through green infrastructure, investing in higher education for underserved youth, expanding accessibility for community health care services, and much more. These projects will undoubtedly improve the lives of residents in the Fifth District and the long-term welfare of our community. Democrats are listening to leaders on the ground, delivering results, and rebuilding a better America for everyone,” said Assistant Speaker Clark.
“I am celebrating alongside so many essential organizations in our community whose efforts will be recognized with a collective investment of more than $11.3 million in federal funding to the Second District,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “As Chair of the House Rules Committee, I fought hard for the inclusion of community projects to deliver vital support to worthwhile causes across Massachusetts and the nation, and I am proud that this money will make a real difference in our Commonwealth.”
MetroWest Medical Center