Training Course “Breaking Barriers”

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Region 9, will be providing two one-day training sessions to assist non Spanish-speaking inspectors who interview non English-speaking fieldworkers and handlers. Past sessions of this training have been very well received and we are pleased to offer sessions in Santa Rosa and Clovis this year.

The trainings will be offered at the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s (CAC) office in Santa Rosa, and DPR’s Central Regional Office (CRO) in Clovis:

There is no fee for this course. Check-in begins at 8:30 and the training session runs from 9:00 – 4:30.

Course topics will include:

• Introduction to Hispanic Culture
• Methods for Approaching & Interviewing Hispanic Fieldworkers/Handlers
• Working with an Interpreter
• Spanish Vocabulary and Phrases – Greetings, Pesticide Safety, and Basic Conversations
• Written Translation Tools – Flip Chart and Questionnaire

The course is for CAC inspectors whose responsibilities may include conducting fieldworker safety inspections and agricultural use monitoring inspections (such as pesticide use, field fumigation, and commodity fumigation). For inspector biologists who have taken this class it will be a good refresher with new content and activities.

The course includes a general session, as well as group sessions of six to eight inspectors interacting with a Spanish bilingual facilitator.

To ensure sufficient supplies, seating, and facilitators, please register via email by the deadlines indicated above to Ms. Debra Kloss, Enforcement Branch, at debra.kloss@cdpr.ca.gov, Phone: 916-445-3892. County Spanish bilingual volunteers are needed to help with the interactive group sessions and are encouraged to register as early as possible.

Sincerely,