Who We Are

About Us

Our History

Established in 1986, Community Interpreter Services (CIS) provides professional interpretation and written translation to assist persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) in accessing legal, medical, educational, and corporate services.

CIS only works with the most qualified interpreters whose language fluency, training, and skills have been reviewed and verified. We partner with more than 150 trained interpreters and translators, who collectively are fluent in over 90 languages. All interpreters are certified through an interpreter training program and go through a CORI background check, a monthly Office of Inspector General check, and many have all the immunizations as required by MA Department of Public Health guidelines for Health Care Personnel. They adhere by a strict code of conduct and ethics that includes impartiality, confidentiality, cultural competency, and more.

We are members of the American Translators Association, the International Medical Interpreters Association, and the Association of Language Companies. We are an authorized vendor under the Massachusetts Statewide Contract, PRF75.

With over 35 years of experience, CIS has developed unique expertise in delivering professional language services throughout the Commonwealth. We work with corporations and agencies that have diverse customer bases and employee populations to overcome language barriers.

Our long-term customers include many healthcare providers, state and local government agencies, social service organizations, law firms, and public schools, to name a few. In the past 10 years, over 100,000 LEP individuals, children, families, and elders have received our interpreter services – allowing them access to critical services in their native languages.

CIS is a social enterprise of Catholic Charities of Boston, meaning we are one of the only non-profit interpreter service providers in the state. Our profits are invested directly into the communities we work in. When you choose Community Interpreter Services, you are supporting the many Catholic Charities programs – from youth mentoring to food pantries – that serve individuals and families in need.

“They have been great and always willing to help. I have been working with some of their interpreters since I started and they often help me reach out to the leads to help me schedule the in-home [visits].”
A Nurse PractitionerSenior Care Options program
A Nurse Practitioner
"CIS is prompt at returning calls and very professional. We’ve used them for our training needs as well as translating documents... each interpreter has been very flexible when trying to coordinate interpreters with our trainings."
Paula IsenbergPigeon Cove Quality Assurance
Paula Isenberg
“I am thrilled with the accuracy of Community Interpreter Services written translation skills. I know where to go when the opportunity arises.”
Fran BakstranArea Agency on Aging Assistant Director
Fran Bakstran
“[CIS] made our annual Immigrants’ Day so much more inclusive and accessible. The interpreters were wonderful to work with and our attendees were so glad interpretation was available. It truly made our event so much more accessible.”
Amira Al-Subaeyformer Membership Coordinator
Amira Al-Subaey
Boston Public Schools has been using CIS to provide interpretation services to the district for over 10 years, and we are satisfied with their performance. The interpreters are professional and skillful, and the CIS scheduling team is quick to respond, efficient, and a pleasure to work with.
Allen DowlingDirector of Translation & Interpretation
Allen Dowling
In the last 6 months, CIS has provided interpreters for almost 2,000 Unemployment Insurance Hearings at DUA in at least 20 different languages. . .Their interpreters are always professional and proficient in their language and the CIS scheduling team is very friendly and amenable to our needs. I'm happy to recommend Community Interpreter Services at Catholic Charities of Boston.
Marisa de la PazDirector of the Office of Multilingual Services
Marisa de la Paz
Not only are their interpreters top-notch, but their customer service is incredibly helpful. They make the process of finding virtual or in-person interpretation very straightforward. I strongly recommend Community Interpreter Services and I am looking forward to continuing to work with them for all our interpretation and translation needs.
Beth HegartyAdministrative Assistant to the Director of Special Education
Beth Hegarty
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