Bridging the Gap is a medical Interpreter training program through the nonprofit Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP), which provides a 5-day training for medical interpreters. It trains participants on ethics, roles and boundaries for interpreters and, specialized vocabulary and resources, and it provides considerable role-playing experience.

After successfully completing the program, interested interpreters who have demonstrated considerable skills may be chosen to participate in the 4 day Train-the-Trainers program. Participants who show a strong potential for teaching others are then licensed through the Bridging the Gap program to teach other medical interpreters in their local areas. Trainers must be sponsored by a non-profit agency and agree to provide training on a non-profit basis.

One Train-the-Trainer program has been previously provided in Wisconsin. In this manner, local interpreters are retained as trainers and can teach in their local areas, making the training expenses for each participant as low as possible.

The Train-the-Trainer program is sponsored by the Department of Workforce Development, Office of Migrant, Refugee and Labor Services. In return for any tuition paid by the Department of Workforce Development, Office of Migrant, Refugee and Labor Services, the trainers are expected to conduct at least two training sessions each. As part of the agreement between the trainers and the Bridging the Gap program, the trainers are able to use Bridging the Gap curriculum and materials for their own trainings.

The Bridging the Gap trainers in Wisconsin schedule their own sessions and set their own fees.* For more information about interpreter training sessions, or to set up a training in your area, you may contact the trainer directly. Their contact information is as follows: