Translating and interpreting for vulnerable populations can expose volunteers to information that could raise concerns for the safety of an individual. It can be tricky navigating one's duty to maintain confidentiality with the inner desire to help a person in need.
Tarjimly is a California-based non-profit with beneficiaries and volunteers from all over the world. Laws differ based on state and country, and vary on whether or not translators and interpreters are considered mandated reporters. As a general rule, confidentiality may only be broken in very specific situations:
To report the abuse or neglect of a minor
Learn about the warning signs of child abuse.To report the abuse or neglect of a senior/elder
Learn to spot the signs of elder abuse and neglect.To report the abuse or neglect of an individual with disabilities
Learn the indicators and signs of abuse of people with disabilities.To report an individual who is a threat to themselves or others
Learn the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, and access violent risk assessment tools.
Since the above is difficult to discern, and since our volunteers and beneficiaries are located around the globe, we advise the following:
If you are worried about the well-being of an individual, message Tarjimly Support through the app, or email our team at team@tarjim.ly . Do not include any personally identifiable information (PII) in the correspondence. Just send us the email you used to sign in to Tarjimly, the date and approximate time of the session, and your general concern. Our team will investigate sessions you have translated for in order to find the session in question.
Please note that the above resources are a guide, but do not necessarily represent the signs displayed in all cases. If you still feel concerned over the well-being of a member of the Tarjimly community even if they do not meet the criteria above, please contact us.