The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued new guidance and instruction regarding county use of the CR 6181 Interpreter Services Statement and Confidentiality Agreement form. The CR 6181 must be used when individuals with limited English proficiency use their own verbal interpreter, or when deaf and hard of hearing persons use their own sign language interpreter.
The CR 6181 informs people of the possibility of communication errors when they use their own interpreter. It also informs that their interpreter may need to interpret sensitive and personal information, and the county cannot guarantee that the client provided interpreter will maintain confidentiality. The CR 6181 does not replace the GEN 1365 Notice of Language Services form. Counties must not compel, encourage, or require an applicant/recipient to use their own interpreter, or discourage use of a county provided interpreter.
After a county is informed that an applicant/recipient needs an interpreter, the county must offer free county-provided interpretation at each substantive client contact. When an applicant/recipient decides to use their own interpreter after being offered a free interpreter, counties must use the CR 6181. The CR 6181 is consent and a release of information which allows the applicant/recipient to use their own interpreter.
The county must not rely on the client-provided interpreter to help the individual understand or complete the CR 6181. The county must use a county-provided interpreter for questions about the CR 6181 form. A new CR 6181 form must be completed if the prior CR 6181 is more than one year old, or the applicant/recipient is using a different interpreter. The county cannot use the applicant/recipient provided interpreter without a completed CR 6181.
For communication by telephone, counties must accept the CR 6181 by telephonic signature or another form of agreement.
Minors can only be used for interpretation temporarily and only until the county provides an interpreter. Because use of a minor is temporary, a CR 6181 is not needed when a minor acts as an interpreter.
Counties must inform applicants/recipients of their right to free interpretation. The county cannot conduct substantive, program related (ACL 24-68, October 17, 2024.)