Fort Wayne continues to be a welcoming home for refugees and immigrants, with at least 10% being foreign-born. The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation has prioritized helping immigrants just as its sponsor, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, did when they came to Fort Wayne in 1868 to minister to German immigrants at the request of Bishop John Luers.

One strategy the St. Joe Foundation uses to advance health access for immigrants is to support the training of medical interpreters in quality, evidence-based interpretation practices. Jackie Martinez, St. Joe Foundation’s Community Impact Director, explains, “We believe that training interpreters in best practices is vital to bridging language and cultural gaps between patients and providers and improving health outcomes in our community.” 

Grantees and community partners can apply for scholarships of up to $650 per person from the St. Joe Foundation to fund the education of their bilingual staff and volunteers to become medical interpreters.

Several upcoming interpreter training opportunities are available. Click below to learn more.

Learn more