News & Articles

Wishing you a Joyous, Prosperous & Peaceful 2016!

12.31.2015

Together as a community of interpreters we have all experienced the amazing magic of representing everyone’s voice, no matter the race, the religion, the age, the gender and the differences between us. During such adverse times, we should be proud of our strength, hope and resiliency. Together we have created a circle of great understanding, respect, tolerance and willingness to grow and to always strive for better customer relations and delivery of linguistic services to a population of immigrants and refugees, that unfortunately now more than ever needs our full respect and attention. Each and every voice counts!

We need to live in a world where trust is the main thread of our fabric. At times, we just feel at loss! In the past few weeks I found myself wrapped with fear, worry and a feeling of hopelessness towards the worldwide events and the local news. A few days ago, I found this powerful image of lightning captured by my father a few summers ago while together in Mexico.

A short story about my visceral feeling of fear every time I saw lightning. I grew up in a beautiful and small Island in the Azores, Portugal. Our first house was built with lots of metal and my mother always covered the windows and mirrors with blankets during lightning. At times when the storms were getting too close to us, my two sisters and I would jump into my parents’ bed—a very special family time!

When I saw this picture, I experienced a deep feeling of comfort and protection…needed even at my age! The very moment this picture was taken our rooms lit with an intense light and power and for the first time, I adventured to open my eyes and cautiously embraced the beauty and the power of an intense storm. My father’s admiration and respect for the power of nature was contagious and both his photography and the time spent with him, led me to a completely different beauty. As a result, I now love and respect lightning!

No one needs to expose themselves to lightning, but you may have a story or an experience of your own that empowers you to take a chance, and perhaps allows you to team up with a trusting person that brings you as much beauty and strength as my father and his love for photographing storms have given me!

On behalf of CCCS, Inc.™ and colleagues, Zarita

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Cross Cultural Communication Systems, Inc.™ is Relocating

11.20.2015

The new space represents a milestone and an opportunity to serve you better. Starting June 2015 CCCS, Inc.™ will be at 227 Garfield Avenue, Suite B, Woburn, MA 01801

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CCCS, Inc.™ NEW Interpreter ID Badge

Dear Customers and Interpreters,CCCS, Inc.™ is pleased to announce its new look for all Interpreter ID badges. As of January 1, 2014, all active CCCS, Inc.™ Interpreters will wear a new ID badge.

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NEW! Getting Ready for Your ORAL Healthcare Interpreter Certification Exam

52-hour Certificate of Attendance Intensive Online Review Course

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NEW! Getting Ready for Your WRITTEN Healthcare Interpreter Certification Exam

20-hour Certificate of Attendance Intensive Online Review Course

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Affordable Care Act (ACA)

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. The ACA’s purpose is to make preventive care more accessible and affordable for many Americans. Some rights and protections in the ACA apply to plans in the Marketplace or individual insurance. ACA enrollment began on October 1, 2013 but coverage will not begin until January 1, 2014.

Starting in 2014, insurance companies can no longer turn down or charge their customers more because they have pre-existing conditions, although individual health insurance plans (insurance bought by yourself) do not have to cover pre-existing conditions. In the past, insurance companies had put a lifetime cap on the amount of care they would pay for. They would deny coverage in some cases and find “mistakes” in the paperwork as an excuse to cancel a person’s coverage. The ACA is making it illegal for insurance companies to cancel coverage because an honest mistake or information was left out on the application that has little bearing on the applicant’s health. In ending limits on care, the ACA will allow patients with chronic illnesses to continue to receive medical care and not have their insurers drop them because their health care expenses have reached a limit imposed by insurance companies.

Above all the ACA will make health care insurance more affordable. The Health Insurance Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov) will offer a way for people to find coverage that fits their budget and meet their needs. At the Marketplace, people will be able to compare their option based on price and benefits. Affordability is to provide many Americans with health insurance which in turn offers them preventive care. Preventive care are measures taken to help people stay healthy and avoid or delay health problems; which can create a bigger financial problem down the road if people’s health condition gets severe enough. With the 80-20 rule, if the insurance companies do not spend at least 80% of the money they take in on premiums, they will have to offer a rebate to their customers.

It does take some time to understand the offerings of the ACA but its main goal is to improve the quality of life. In the graphic novel – Health Care Reform: What is, Why It’s Necessary, How it Work – one of the many sources to understanding the ACA,Jonathan Grulere writes, “The major accomplishment of the Affordable Care Act is to provide true security to the insured in the U.S. It forces the insurance industry to abandon practices that had been central to their business strategy for more than 50 years.”

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2013 Language Access Plan (HHS LAP)

Congratulations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is pleased to announce that it has published its 2013 Language Access Plan (HHS LAP) ensuring access to the Department’s programs and activities to people with limited English proficiency (LEP).

America’s population reflects diverse communications needs. Nearly 20 percent of the population (55 million people) speaks a language other than English at home, 63 percent of hospitals treat LEP patients daily or weekly and more than 15 languages are frequently encountered by at least 20 percent of hospitals.

In accordance with Executive Order 13166 (PDF, 256kb), Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency, the HHS LAP establishes the Department’s policy and strategy for serving persons with LEP and its commitment to the language access principals which state that people with LEP should have meaningful access to federally funded programs, activities, services and benefits. The plan further serves as a blueprint for HHS Divisions to develop their own agency-specific language access plans.

The HHS LAP is organized into ten cross-cutting elements with specific actions steps for HHS agencies to include in their respective agency-specific plans. The ten elements include:

ELEMENT 1: Assessment: Needs and Capacity 

ELEMENT 2: Oral Language Assistance Services 

ELEMENT 3: Written Translations 

ELEMENT 4: Policies and Procedures 

ELEMENT 5: Notification of the Availability of Language Assistance at no Cost 

ELEMENT 6: Staff Training

 ELEMENT 7: Assessment: Access and Quality 

ELEMENT 8: Stakeholder Consultation (New Element) 

ELEMENT 9: Digital Information (New Element) 

ELEMENT 10: Grant Assurance and Compliance (New Element)

For more information, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/open/execorders/13166/index.html

The HHS Language Access Plan (PDF, 416kb).

Department of Justice statement on Renewing a Commitment to Language Access (PDF, 1.46mb) (2011).

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The Art of Medical Interpretation 60-hr Certificate of Accomplishment Program at the Manchester Community College, NH.

Scholarships May be Available for NH Residents.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY USING YOUR BILINGUAL SKILLS TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY & ADVANCE YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER

KNOW THE FACTS
• Growing careers in the interpreter and translator fields. It is predicted that by 2018 this profession will grow by 22% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Financial & personal benefits
• Start your new career in less than a year
• Cross Cultural Communication Institute is accredited by the NH Division of Higher Education
• Scholarships &WIA funds may be available for NH residents
• CCCS, Inc.™ has a collaborative partnership with Manchester Community College
• CCCS, Inc.™ courses are approved by both the American Translators Association (ATA) & the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA)

For more information
CCCS,Inc.™: 603.880.4949 or info@embracingculture.com
Manchester Community College: Kathy DesRoches
603.206.8161 or kdesroches@ccsnh.edu.

PREREQUISITES
1. Applicant must be at least 18 years of age with a High School diploma or equivalent
2. Applicant must pass a mandatory language screening examination in English and target language(s) prior to acceptance into the program
3. Applicant must pass the language screening at a minimum rating of Advanced Mid-Level according to industry standards

2013 COURSE DATES
The Art of Medical Interpretation
60-hour Certificate of Accomplishment Program

SPRING
February 2 – April 20 – Saturdays, 9 am – 3 pm

SUMMER
May 29 – August 7 – Mondays & Wednesdays, 6 pm – 9 pm

FALL
September 21 – December 7 – Saturdays. 9 am – 3 pm

CCCS, INC.™ Is commitment, excellence & innovation

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CCCS, Inc. Overview

Cross Cultural Communication Systems, Inc.™

Providing Services Globally & Nationwide Since 1996

– On-site and over the phone interpretation
– Bilingual workforce development
– Cultural competency workshops
– On-site & online trainings for interpreters
– Written translations

Embracing linguistic & cultural connections
Providing 24/7/365 language solutions

How we stand above the rest Providing services globally & nationwide

– Innovative approach to catering to language industry needs a High professional standards in serving the healthcare, legal, educational and business communities
– Industry specific tools and manuals developed by CCCS, Inc.™ experts when training and hiring professional interpreters
– Quality Assurance Program that focuses on monitoring, providing feedback, and incorporating needed changes
– Rigorous hiring and well-structured training practices to ensure that we contract only the most qualified, reliable, knowledgeable and capable interpreters and translators
– Quick response to all inquiries
– Cost Effective strategies for businesses
– Tailored reports for data collection

PO Box 2308, Woburn, MA 01888
T: 781.729.3736 x111
F: 781.729.1217
888.678.2227 x111

CCCS, INC.™ Is commitment, excellence & innovation

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Cross Cultural Communication Systems, Inc.™ is relocating

In order to accomodate our rapid growth and business expansion, it is our pleasure to inform you that CCCS, Inc.™ is relocating to 304 Cambridge Rd. suite 103, Woburn, MA 01801.

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