Language Line Services Adds Security Clearance Certification to Portfolio of Interpreter Qualifications
MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 5, 2009 — Language Line Services, the leading provider of over-the-phone and video interpretation services, now offers an extra layer of confidence – Security Clearance Certification. This designation refers to the same rigorous standards used by federal government agencies to provide security clearances for their own employees who handle sensitive personal or financial information. As needed, Language Line Services will provide its customers qualified interpreters who have received security clearance certification to interpret for federal, state and local government agencies, and other organizations that require added security.
"The ever-increasing variety of languages spoken in the United States is a reality which all organizations face daily," said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services president and chief operating officer. "We are proud to provide this much-needed service with an added level of security, safety and integrity for those organizations that have a role in providing national security or have increased requirements for meeting federal security clearance guidelines."
Under a July 2008 Executive Order, federal agencies are required to establish consistent standards for all individuals who have access to classified national security information. The process includes completion of a detailed 7-page security clearance questionnaire, passing a criminal background check, finger-printing, and receiving a suitability determination of an individual's fitness and character to serve in a position of public trust.
As a major provider of interpretation services to law enforcement organizations, government agencies and courts, Language Line Services has committed to have every domestic employed interpreter and translator certified by the federal government through the SF85 process.
The company has also launched a nationwide recruitment effort to substantially increase its domestic workforce of interpreters and translators. Provenzano noted the company's hiring outlook is in line with President Obama's economic plan to create made-in-America jobs. "Especially given current economic conditions, unemployment rates and the trend towards foreign outsourcing of jobs, we are happy to report that Language Line Services is creating jobs in the U.S. by hiring local, skilled American workers," he said.
"Language Line Services' commitment to provide federally screened interpreters is in line with the company's history of excellence and public responsibility," said Kevin F. Kelly, Vice President of Van Scoyoc Associates, Washington's largest independent government relations firm. "Throughout our association, I have been consistently impressed by the foresight and care Language Line Services has shown in dealing with sensitive information," Kelly said.
A full 66 percent of Language Line Services' domestic interpreters and translators have already completed the extensive application process. To date, a fourth of Language Line Services' domestic workforce is certified, having received the suitability determination issued by the federal government using its recognized standard SF85 clearance. Many of these certified interpreters are currently being utilized by federal and state agencies to interpret/translate mission-related data, help with cultural consulting, Title III monitoring, interview support, forensic processing, screening, recruitment, logistical coordination, site supervision and quality control of all related services.
Language Line Services expects to complete the Federal Security process for 100 percent of its domestically employed interpreters by July 2010. The company is also prepared to match, on an as-needed basis, any additional security criteria which may be requested by government agencies seeking more stringent requirements.
Provenzano noted that even before adding this new higher level of security clearance certification, the company offered the most highly trained and certified interpreters and translators in the industry, where only one in every 12 applicants is accepted. "Language Line Services' interpreters are employed, not contracted, have considerable experience and most importantly, the ability to preserve the meaning and unique nuances of sensitive communications. Through this new offering, we will ensure that Language Line Services and its employees are held to the identical standard to which the federal government's own employees are held to maintain the public's trust in the handling of sensitive information."
"By law, companies without federal government contracts cannot require their employee or contract interpreters to go through security clearance. This is also true for companies that do not have an employee workforce and, therefore, use independent contractors," said Jacqueline McManus, attorney, Fenton & Keller, Inc. of Monterey, CA.
"By offering only the highest-quality employee interpreters, we demonstrate once again that the investment we make in our team translates into added value and security for our clientele," Provenzano added.
Language Line Services provides immediate interpretation to nearly 90 percent of the nation's 911 call centers, thousands of health care providers and government agencies – as well as more than 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies.
About Language Line Services
Language Line Services, the global leader in telephone interpreting and language solutions, serves clients in government, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, utilities, insurance and many other industries by quickly connecting them to their customers, patients and sales prospects in over 175 spoken languages as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and Mexican Sign Language (LSM). Growth of the language interpreting industry has soared with increased immigration and government regulatory policies mandating that organizations provide services to limited English speakers in their own languages. Language Line Services is recognized as a trusted partner to thousands of public and private organizations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, providing easy access to the industry's fastest language interpreting service at highly competitive rates. For more information about Language Line Services' suite of telephone, on-site and video interpreting, document translation, interactive software-based translation, interpreter training and certification programs, please call (800) 752-6096 or visit http://www.languageline.com.
Media Contacts:
Dale Hansman / Email / 831-648-7436
Jeanine Karp / Email / 305-448-3754
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