Client Story: Prince William County
Industry: Government
Expanding Access to Critical Community Services
For local governments, language access is one of the keys to delivering equitable public services. Without professional interpretation and translation services, residents may struggle to access critical resources, leading to gaps in care and engagement. By investing in structured language solutions, municipalities can create more inclusive programs that meet the needs of their diverse populations.
Challenge
Local governments must verify that essential services remain accessible to all residents, regardless of any language barriers. Multilingual communication is especially important when providing social services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations, where language gaps can create obstacles in building trust and driving engagement. For Virginia’s Prince William County, clear and precise communication during therapy sessions for youth and families was a top priority. The county required skilled interpreters who could deliver both linguistic accuracy and emotional sensitivity, and create a safe and welcoming space for the community.
Solution
PGLS partnered with Prince William County to provide professional Spanish interpretation services for therapy sessions. Understanding that the success of these sessions hinged on residents’ sense of trust and comfort, PGLS assigned Jessica, an experienced interpreter with an innate ability to build cross-cultural connections. Her warm and adaptive approach helped participants feel understood, which allowed youth and their families to fully engage in the therapy process.
Results
With skilled interpretation services in place, Prince William County better served its Spanish-speaking residents and increased the broader impact of its community programs. By removing language barriers, the county created a more inclusive environment where residents felt heard, valued, and empowered to participate in their care. The success of these sessions illustrated the importance of accessible language services in government-led social programs, and the impact these services can have on the health of a community.