In whose words? Struggles and strategies of service providers working with immigrant clients with limited language abilities in the violence against women sector and child protection services

Focus groups with Canadian child protection workers and violence-against-women service providers explored how they serve newcomer and immigrant clients who have limited proficiency in English or French. Five themes emerged: engaging clients and supporting their agency, the pros and cons of interpreters, creative translation strategies, structural barriers, and gender and cultural considerations. Providers need better training and funding to deliver language-sensitive services, because clients whose language needs go unmet may face safety risks or family separation.