Locality: National

National

Switchboard (for Refugee Service Providers)

Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the US. Funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Switchboard offers a library of learning resources, an online evidence database, a range of self-paced e-learning courses, regular live learning opportunities, and on-demand technical assistance for ORR-funded organizations. Switchboard is implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC has partnered with Lutheran Immigrant Refugee Service (LIRS) to provide employment-related training and technical assistance.

Responding to Questions and Concerns about the COVID-19 Vaccine, Including During Ramadan

4/15/21 Refugee service providers are increasingly being asked questions about the vaccine. They may struggle not only with what their responses should be, but also with what their role should be in the vaccine conversation and where to find helpful resources for clients. Key Words: misinformation, Muslim, Islam, vaccination

Home Alone: Prepare Kids for Emergencies

Many children don’t have adult supervision 100% of the time. Parents and caregivers have jobs, errands, and other responsibilities that require them to leave their kids home alone some of the time.
Emergencies and no-notice disasters can happen during these gaps in supervision. Here are some practical skills you can teach, and conversations you can have, to prepare them to be home alone.

Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans – FEMA

9/21 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 provides guidance from FEMA on the fundamentals
of planning and developing emergency operations plans. The guide describes the steps to produce
an emergency operation plan, possible plan structures and components of a base plan and its
annexes. Other FEMA guides provide detailed information about planning considerations for specific
functions, hazards and threats

Bosses to U.S. workers- Vaccination or termination

8/30/21 Corporate leaders have clearly become impatient. They’ve decided to use their freedom and workplace muscle to choose what risks are worthwhile for their enterprises. Unvaccinated workers have become a no-go.
Yes, the workplace vaccination drive isn’t simply a health concern for a company’s communities. There are monetary motivations, too. Healthier nation, healthier profits. Key Words: Pandemic

Assurance Wireless Free Phone & Service

Assurance Wireless Unlimited combines our Lifeline service with the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) to give eligible customers Unlimited Data & Texts & Minutes, plus 10GB Hotspot Data.
Lifeline is a government benefit program. Assurance Wireless provides Lifeline service supported by the federal Universal Service Fund and the California LifeLine Program.
Qualifications: Enrollment in this government benefit program is available to consumers who qualify based on federal or state-specific eligibility criteria. See if you qualify today! Key Words: Communication, internet

Global Alliance for Disability Resource Acceleration (Global Alliance or GADRA)

World Institute on Disability (WID), the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (the Partnership), and ONG Inclusiva have joined forces to form the Global Alliance for Disability Resource Acceleration (Global Alliance or GADRA) as a “Call-to-Action” to galvanize disability-led organizations, foundations, corporations, and other allies to identify needs and link partners to accelerate assistance and resources, both during and after disasters. Key Words: AFN

Deadly Discrimination: The Forgotten Impact Of Covid-19 On People With Disabilities

7/6/20 Disability rights are civil rights, and July 26, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Similar to laws in other countries, it is significant civil rights legislation affording persons with disabilities legal protection from discrimination.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it is precisely these legal protections that should safeguard people. However, according to Marcie Roth, CEO of World Institute on Disability, “of the 43% of COVID-19 deaths attributed to congregate facilities, almost 100% are disabled people.” Key Words: AFN

Explainer: Humanitarian Parole and the Afghan Evacuation

8/30/21 The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban has prompted a refugee crisis. UNHCR reports that more than 550,000 Afghans have been displaced since January due to Taliban advances. Those most at risk include women leaders and activists, human rights workers, journalists, and tens of thousands of individuals who have assisted U.S. efforts in the country and are marked by their connection to the U.S. military.
Due to the inadequacy of the SIV and P-2 programs in the context of an emergency evacuation, on August 23 the administration announced it would be using its humanitarian parole authority to process in evacuated Afghans who do not already have visas. This explainer will define humanitarian parole and describe how it is being used in the ongoing evacuation.

Muslim American mental health experts are developing their own resources

8/26/21 Muslim American adults are twice as likely to report a history of attempted suicide than Americans belonging to other religious traditions or no religion, according to a new study. It’s a rate even higher than experts feared, one that includes both local tragedies that families may be reluctant to report and high-profile cases, like the shocking murder-suicide in Allen, Texas, that left an entire family dead in April and sent shockwaves through Muslim communities around the country.

Special Needs – Glossary of Spanish Translations

This 2nd edition of the OSEP Glossary of Spanish Translations of Common IDEA Terms includes over 400 terms related to IDEA Parts B and C (the parts of IDEA that cover special education and early intervention services, respectively). The terms were selected by experienced translators from Parent Centers who have worked with families with children with disabilities representing the majority of Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America and Spain. Multi-language: Spanish

Stopping ICE From Unlawfully Detaining Immigrant Youth

7/2/21 Following a four-week trial in December 2019 and January 2020, the Court held on July 2, 2020 that ICE is violating the law in the manner in which it detains 18 year-olds.
This lawsuit challenged Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) practice of transferring unaccompanied minors who turn 18 years old to adult custody in the agency’s contracted jails and prisons, without considering less restrictive placements. In many cases, youth were sent to ICE detention even if they had sponsors waiting to take them in.

Congress fails to extend national COVID eviction ban

7/31/21 More than 3.6 million Americans are at risk of eviction, some in a matter of days.
A nationwide eviction moratorium is set to expire Saturday after President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress worked furiously but ultimately failed to align on a long-shot strategy to prevent millions of Americans from being forced from their homes during a COVID-19 surge.
More than 3.6 million Americans are at risk of eviction, some in a matter of days, as nearly $47 billion in federal housing aid to the states during the pandemic has been slow to make it into the hands of renters and landlords owed payments.

FEMA Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG)

May 2021 The IAPPG version 1.1 consolidates information on all of FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) programs and activities and provides a comprehensive policy resource for state,1 local,2 tribal,3 and territorial (SLTT) governments, non-governmental organization
partners, and entities that participate in or support the recovery of disaster survivors. Key Words: Emergency, Disaster

American Red Cross (ARC) – Find Open Shelters

If an emergency has forced you to evacuate your home, the Red Cross may be able to help. National site with locations of all Red Cross sponsored emergency shelters.
Everyone is welcome at a Red Cross shelter. The Red Cross does not discriminate based on nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, disability, political opinions, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Your service animal is also welcome. Please speak with a shelter worker if your service animal is in need of food or supplies. (You may also ask for help finding placement for your pets.)

American Red Cross (ARC) Contact Loved Ones

War and disaster can tear families apart when they need each other the most. The American Red Cross can help your family members reconnect, whether the separation was caused by a recent emergency here at home, war or natural disaster overseas, or events as far back as the Holocaust.
Reunification of Family in the US and US Territories
Restoring Family Links to locate a family member outside of the US separated by international crisis. Call our free Restoring Family Links national helpline at 1-844-782-9441
Multi-language: Spanish

CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women

8/11/21 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday urged pregnant women and women who were recently pregnant to get vaccinated for COVID-19, saying there was mounting evidence that the benefits of the vaccine far outweighed any known or potential risks.
The CDC said on its website that the current COVID-19 vaccines were recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant.
The agency also said that although the overall risk of severe illness was low, pregnant and recently pregnant women were more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with nonpregnant women. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect them from severe illness

Generocity – RACIAL EQUITY GLOSSARY

Since a shared vocabulary is the necessary first step for discussing racial equity, Generocity has put together a glossary of terms you might find useful.

Archive -OVERVIEW OF THE NEW U NONIMMIGRANT (“U VISA”) BONA FIDE DETERMINATION

7/2021 On June 14, 2021, USCIS announced a new “bona fide determination” process whereby certain U petitioners and their family members with pending U petitions can receive four-year work authorization and deferred action while they wait for full adjudication. This process could be very good for many of the 270,000 folks who have filed for a U visa and are waiting – but there are many folks left out, and of course, much of this depends on how the process will be implemented. This practice advisory explains the process as we understand it based on current information and draws heavily on the new guidance published in the USCIS Policy Manual on the U
Nonimmigrant Bona Fide Determination at Volume 3, Part C, Chapter 5, 1 which should be consulted for more details and further legal citations.

5 Things To Know About the Delta Variant

7/22/21 For the first time in more than a year, we’re feeling some hope”or at least cautious optimism”that the pandemic could recede to the background. But experts want us to know that there is still a concern that new mutations of the virus could bring it back, and it might be even stronger.
From what we know so far, people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus appear to have protection against Delta, but anyone who is unvaccinated and not practicing preventive strategies is at risk for infection by the new variant, the doctors say.
Key Words: Pandemic, COVID-19

Christians and the Vaccine

Should I take the COVID vaccine?
This is a question that everyone must answer for themselves.
For some Christians, this question runs into a particular set of roadblocks. These are serious issues, and they deserve a thoughtful and biblical response.
We have gathered as a coalition to provide information about the vaccine from trusted Christian voices. We make the case that Christians should take the vaccine. But as important as the action itself is, we believe the decision making process matters just as much. Key Words: Misinformation

For U.S. Latinos, COVID-19 Has Taken a Personal and Financial Toll

7/15/21 More than a year into the pandemic, Latinos in the United States say COVID-19 has harmed them and their loved ones in many ways. About half say a family member or close friend has been hospitalized or died from the coronavirus, and a similar share say they or someone in their household has lost a job or taken a pay cut during the pandemic. Yet amid these hardships, Latinos are upbeat about the future. Nearly two-thirds say the worst of the coronavirus outbreak is behind the country, and a majority say they expect their financial situation and that of their family to improve over the next year.

Trabajos del Campo

7/21 Trabajosdelcampo.com: is an anonymous Job Review Platform for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North America. The goal is to improve the working and living conditions of farmworkers across the US and Canada by providing a platform to communicate freely about farm job working conditions(think Glassdoor for farmworkers).
The Anonymous Job Review Website Concept has already brought transparency and accountability to the workplace across numerous industries. Trabajosdelcampo.com will bring the concept to those who need it most, our Nations’ Farmworkers.

For Minimum Wage Workers, Rent Is Now Unaffordable in Every County in America

7/16/21 There is now not a single state or county in the US where a minimum wage worker on a 40-hour week can afford a two-bedroom home at the fair market rent, according to a report published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition this week. In 93 percent of US counties, such full-time minimum wage workers can’t afford a one-bedroom apartment, either.
“The enduring problem of housing unaffordability requires bold investments in housing solutions that will ensure stability in the future” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel in an emailed statement. “Without a significant federal intervention, housing will continue to be out of reach for millions of renters.”

New DACA Court Ruling

7/16/21 Update from the National Immigration Law Center
– A U.S. district court in Texas today agreed with a group of states, led by Texas, that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful.
The court ruled that DACA is unlawful and blocked the federal government from granting any new first-time DACA applications. However, the court will continue to allow DACA renewals. People with DACA will not lose their protections. For the time being, pending renewal applications will be adjudicated and current DACA recipients can continue to submit renewal applications. Key Words: NILC

Keep Your Benefits – Final Public Charge Rule & MediCal Update

FINAL PUBLIC CHARGE RULE:  The rule clarifies that immigrants will not be penalized for receiving most health care, food, and social programs.  Rules about public benefit programs and immigrants are confusing. But benefits can help your family stay healthy and thrive. Get the facts about public charge & immigration. Fill in the National Public Charge Test Guide to see if public benefits could affect different immigration options.   Spanish |   Chinese |  CA Specific Public Charge Test Guide

5/1/23 MediCal Update

9 Tips for Lightening the Load of Zoom Fatigue

During this past year of isolation, video-conferencing platforms have become a crucial way to stay employed and stay in touch, but they are increasingly leaving us overwhelmed and exhausted. Stanford professor Jeremy Bailenson has been studying the phenomenon of Zoom fatigue and outlines the four causes in a new study. We briefly describe the causes below and provide some of The Grove’s best practices for lightening the mental load of virtual meetings.

After Hurricane Maria Comic

Throughout 2017 and 2018 I investigated how low-income families in Puerto Rico recovered from Hurricane Maria, which devastated the Caribbean island in September 2017. Alongside the brilliant illustrator John Cei Douglas, I turned this ethnographic research into a comic, FREE to download in English and in Spanish. Although the comic tells the story of a fictional family, “After Maria” is based on the experiences that tie together all of the families I spoke to.
Spanish

Supreme Court Denies Bond Hearings to People Pursuing Protection Claims Who Have Prior Removal Orders

6/30/21 The Supreme Court issued a decision on June 29 in the Johnson v. Guzman Chavez case. The majority of the justices determined that people with prior removal orders are subject to mandatory detention, even while they pursue proceedings to stop their deportation to a country where they established they have a reasonable fear of persecution or torture.
Without the opportunity to be released on bond, these individuals face months and even years in detention as they pursue protection in what are known as withholding-only proceedings. Withholding of removal is a form of protection that prohibits the U.S. government from deporting someone to a country where they will be persecuted or tortured.

Solidarity in Isolation? Social Cohesion at a Time of Physical Distance

7/21 Report from Migration Policy – In addition to its widespread public-health and economic impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged social cohesion in many countries by forcing changes in how people interact. Physical connection, the most human response to collective adversity, has been largely out of reach during long periods of lockdown, social distancing, and remote work and learning. The temporary closure of public spaces such as libraries and schools has also limited the spontaneous, casual encounters that can build bridges between disparate groups.

Welcoming Center Tool Kit – ENGAGING IMMIGRANT TALENT

7/21 This study was conducted during the global pandemic (COVID-19) with businesses and organizations switching nonessential operations to remote work. Further, during 2020, there was civil and social unrest due to the exposure of racial and gender disparities across many health, economic, and criminal justice systems in Philadelphia, as well as across the United States. The role of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the exposure to the social and political upheaval was at the forefront of our minds in the development of this tool. Key Words: Cultural Competence

Young children will pay the price if enough US adults don’t get vaccinated, says expert

7/15/21 Children will likely pay the price for adults in the US not getting vaccinated at high enough rates to slow or stop the spread of Covid-19, which has been surging in most states, a vaccine expert said.
If vaccination rates among adults and kids 12 and older keep lagging amid increased spread of the Delta variant, the youngest members of the population will be most affected, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccinologist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Why a Santa Clara County judge is having people sign a U.S. flag

5/28/21 Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Johnny Gogo has been taking a U.S. flag with 48 stars around the Bay Area ” and the country ” in a campaign to remember the survivors of one of the darkest periods of our nation’s history, the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Gogo, a former Santa Clara County prosecutor, was inspired after Judge Roberta Hayashi reached out to him to get more involved in Fred Korematsu Day events. He came up with a plan to get a 48-star flag ” that’s how many states there were in the 1940s ” and find internment survivors sign it. But he had no idea just how important it would become.

Where To Find Scholarships For Latino And Hispanic Students

6/18/21 prior to Covid-19, Hispanic and Latino students were enrolling in college at record numbers. From 2000 to 2016, Latino 18- to 24-year-olds’ college enrollment rate grew from 22% to 39%, according to a 2019 report from UnidosUS, an advocacy group.
Latino families were disproportionately affected by job losses and illness, the number of first-year Hispanic and Latino college students dropped by 20%, IN THE fALL OF 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
If your finances have been affected and you’re worried about how to pay for college, there are many scholarships for Hispanics and Latinos available to help offset the cost.

Biden Will Admit Asylum Seekers Ordered Deported Under Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols

6/23/21 Asylum seekers who were ordered deported for missing their U.S. court hearings under the Trump administration’s so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)”informally known as the “Remain in Mexico” program”will be allowed to restart their proceedings in the United States. Thousands of others whose cases were terminated because of procedural errors before they had a chance to seek asylum will also be allowed to restart the process.

Violence against women during covid-19 pandemic restrictions

5/7/20 Protections for women and girls must be built into response plans
As the covid-19 pandemic intensifies, its gendered effects have begun to gain attention. Though data are scarce, media coverage and reports from organizations that respond to violence against women reveal an alarming picture of increased reports of intimate partner violence during this outbreak, including partners using physical distancing measures to further isolate affected women from resources.

The Delta Variant Is a Grave Danger to the Unvaccinated

6/23/21 First detected in India, Delta has at least a dozen mutations, including several … that make it vastly more contagious and possibly more lethal and vaccine-resistant. In India, the Delta variant contributed to the most devastating coronavirus wave the world has seen so far;
Delta drives an even wider wedge between vaccinated and unvaccinated people. They have already been living in separate worlds, facing vastly different risks of illness and death; now, their risk levels will diverge further. People who’ve been fully vaccinated can, by and large, feel confident in the immunity that they’ve received. But those who remain susceptible should understand that, for them, this is probably the most dangerous moment of the pandemic.

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

One in five people have learning and attention issues, including specific learning disabilities like dyslexia and/or attention issues like ADHD. These individuals are just as capable as their peers, but many struggle in school and beyond because they fail to get the support they need. We know that with the right support, they can thrive. NCLD works every day to make meaningful change for individuals with learning and attention issues.

711 Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)

Free TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services permit persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a text telephone (TTY) or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.

Dial 711 to be automatically connected to a TRS communications assistant. It’s fast, functional and free. Dialing 711, both voice and TTY-based TRS users can initiate a call from any telephone, anywhere in the US, without having to remember and dial a ten-digit access number.
Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |
Korean |
Key Words: Access and Functional Needs, Communication, AFN

National Integrated Drought Information System

View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and county level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across California using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Key Words: Weather, Water

CDC warns of increasing teen hospitalizations due to COVID

6/4/21 It’s been less than a month that those age 12 to 15 have been able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but medical experts say it’s more important than ever.
“Early in the pandemic, a year ago we were told the messaging was children don’t get infected or sick or transmit to others all of those are false statements” Stanford Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Yvonne Maldonado said.

As laws tackle anti-Asian attacks, advocates push focus to the hate behind the crime

6/13/21 Rather than wait for new crimes against Asian Americans, community leaders push for more actions and policies to address root causes of racial animus

As anti-Asian assaults and harassment continue to surge across the country, community leaders are trying to redirect the unprecedented political and legislative attention on hate crimes against Asian Americans toward policies aimed at addressing the underlying racism fueling these attacks.

The Rising Tide of Violence and Discrimination Against Asian American and Pacific Islander Women and Girls

6/1/21 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
women and girls are prime targets of hate and
discrimination against the AAPI community. The
recent shootings across several Atlanta spas that
claimed the lives of eight people, including six Asian American women, came on the heels of a staggering increase in hate incidents targeting the AAPI community. Key Words: Hate Crimes, Chinese

Stop AAPI Hate- Inside the California organization tracking anti-Asian hate incidents

6/7/21 Stop AAPI Hate has recorded nearly 7,000 hate incidents involving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders nationwide
Volunteers review each report submitted by community members to the Stop AAPI Hate website; more than 2,800 came in during March alone. Women reported more than two thirds of all incidents in the coalition’s most recent national report. About 44% involved Chinese Americans.
While about 12% of survivors said they experienced some form of physical assault, more than two-thirds reported verbal harassment. Others reported civil rights violations, such as workplace discrimination, or online attacks.

One Nation 2020 Report – AAPIs Rising to Fight Dual Pandemics Covid-19 and Racism

10/20 The One Nation Commission Report II, edited by author and journalist Helen Zia, with contributions by Viet Nguyen and AAPI researchers, provides the facts, data, new research, curated stories, and imagery that prove and bring to life the impact on AAPIs of COVID-19 and the compounding effects of the simultaneous rise in anti-Asian hate.
Undertesting, racism, and a lack of disaggregated data Have led to misunderstanding the impact of COVID-19 on the AAPI community.

Not Just a Latino Issue: Undocumented Asians in America

3/21 Of all migrants to the U.S., 40% come from Asia, and out of 18 million Asian Americans in the country, 1.7 million are undocumented. Undocumented status in the U.S. is a civil, not criminal, violation. Comprising nearly 6% of the total population, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are the fastest growing racial group in America. At the same time, Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders are deported at a rate of three times more than that of immigrants as a whole.

Congress passes bill to fight hate crimes vs. Asian Americans

5/19/21 Congress approved legislation Tuesday intended to curtail a striking rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sending President Joe Biden a bipartisan denunciation of the spate of brutal attacks that have proliferated during coronavirus pandemic.
The bill, which the House passed on a 364-62 vote, will expedite the review of hate crimes at the Justice Department and make grants available to help local law enforcement agencies improve their investigation, identification and reporting of incidents driven by bias, which often go underreported. It previously passed the Senate 94-1 in April after lawmakers reached a compromise. Biden has said he will sign it.

My Undocumented Life

Our mission is to provide up-to-date information and resources to undocumented students, their families, and allies (including educators, counselors, and administrators). We post scholarship opportunities that are open to undocumented students, strategies for navigating the educational system while undocumented, information on how to apply for DACA, key upcoming immigration-related events, news on immigration policies, and much more. Most importantly, we want to provide a sense of community to our diverse group of readers. Multi-language: Key Words: Financial Aid

Children Now Account For 22% of New U.S. COVID Cases. Why Is That?

5/3/21 The number of children contracting COVID-19 in the U.S. is much lower than the record highs set at the start of the new year, but children now account for more than a fifth of new coronavirus cases in states that release data by age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. It’s a statistic that may surprise many: Just one year ago, child COVID-19 cases made up only around 3% of the U.S. total.
Key Words: Pandemic

CWS Commends President Biden for Fulfilling Pledge to Increase Refugee Admissions Goal to 62,500 in FY 2021

5/3/21 Setting the stage to set an admissions goal of 125,000 next year, CWS urges the administration to immediately rebuild the resettlement program to resettle as many refugees as possible this year
Church World Service today commended President Biden’s announcement to formally increase the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to 62,500 for the remainder of the fiscal year. This will allow thousands of screened refugees to finally be resettled in the United States to join family members, escape peril, and build new lives in safety. This follows a months-long delay in finalizing an increased admissions goal, which jeopardized the safety of many and had already caused irreparable damage to thousands of refugees who were already approved for resettlement.

How COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy puts others at risk

5/8/21 As long as some people remain hesitant to get the shot, the virus will continue to circulate – and could cause infection in others, whose immune systems aren’t vigorous enough to fully defend them.
They’re insulated only when so many other people are fully vaccinated that the virus can’t find enough people to infect, then stops its spread.
The vulnerable include elders, people born with faulty immune systems and people who must take immunosuppressant drugs for illnesses ranging from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis. Also at risk are people who would love to be vaccinated, but can’t because of life-threatening allergies.

Subtle Asian Mental Health Facebook Group

Please acknowledge that while we would like to be inclusive, this space is primarily a place for Asians and those of Asian descent.
Our hope for this group is to reach as many Asians struggling with mental health, cultural issues, inter-generational trauma, and associated problems as possible. We want Asians to realize they are not alone in their struggles and experiences and that there are others who are here to provide support.

Uber, Lyft to Provide Free Rides to Covid-19 Vaccine Sites Until July 4

5/11/21 Ride-sharing companies Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. will make all rides to and from vaccination sites free until July 4 under a new partnership with the White House.
While the companies were already providing free or discounted rides in some circumstances, the rides will now be free to anyone in the U.S. who is going to a vaccination site to get the shot, and Lyft and Uber will promote the rides to and from tens of thousands of vaccination sites through their apps. The feature will launch in the next two weeks and run until July 4, when Mr. Biden has aimed to have enough people vaccinated to allow for safer Independence Day gatherings. Key Words: Pandemic

CDC Advisers Endorse Pfizer Vaccine for Children Ages 12 to 15

5/10/21 The federal government on Wednesday took a final step toward making the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine available to adolescents in the United States, removing an obstacle to school reopenings and cheering millions of families weary of pandemic restrictions.
An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend the vaccine for use in children ages 12 to 15. The C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, formally adopted the recommendation on Wednesday evening.

Unauthorized Immigrant Population Profiles

Learn about the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States. Where do they live? When did they arrive in the United States, and from which origin countries? What are their levels of education, top industries of employment, incomes, parental and marital status, health care coverage, and more? Using a unique MPI methodology to assign legal status in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014-18 American Community Survey data, this data tool provides detailed sociodemographic profiles for the United States, 41 states (plus the District of Columbia), and the 127 counties with the largest unauthorized populations.

Unauthorized Immigrant Populations by Country and Region, Top States and Counties of Residence, 2018

This interactive map, based on Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates, shows the top states and counties of residence for unauthorized immigrants in the United States as of 2018, based on their country or region of origin. Select a country or region from the dropdown menu to learn where immigrants from that geography settle primarily. Hover over a state to get state population estimates.

Hindu American Foundation

HAF focuses on educating the public about Hindus and Hinduism and advocating for policies and practices that ensure the well-being of all people and the planet.
HAF is not affiliated with any religious or political organizations or entities. HAF seeks to serve Hindu Americans across all sampradaya (Hindu religious traditions) regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, age and/or disability. Key Words: India

Refugees arriving in US unlikely to exceed cap set by Trump

5/16/21 President Joe Biden, under political pressure, agreed to admit four times as many refugees this budget year as his predecessor did, but resettlement agencies concede the number actually allowed into the U.S. will be closer to the record-low cap of 15,000 set by former President Donald Trump.
Refugee advocates say they are grateful for the increase because it’s symbolically important to show the world the United States is back as a humanitarian leader at a time when the number of refugees worldwide is the highest since World War II. But they’re frustrated, too, because more refugees could have been admitted if Biden hadn’t dragged his feet.

Biden is taking steps to improve legal representation for the poor

5/18/21 President Biden on Tuesday released a plan to bolster legal services for the poor, an overlooked and underfunded element of the justice reform agenda that he campaigned on implementing to address inequality and police violence.
Ahead of his trip to Michigan, Mr. Biden signed a memorandum directing the Department of Justice to reopen the Access to Justice Office, a 2010 Obama-era initiative intended to create new legal services programs that was shut down under President Donald J. Trump.
He will also reconstitute a task force in the White House to discuss expansion of legal aid for low-income people and minority groups.

US COVID-19-Related Update on Travel to the US from India

4/30/21 Beginning Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the United States may well restrict travel from India due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 cases in India.
If an individual has a valid U.S. visa, they should plan to return to the United States before May 4, 2021. As a reminder, all air passengers two years of age and over who are entering the US (including U.S.?citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) must present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 3 calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.
As of today, visa appointments through May 13, 2021, have been cancelled by U.S. consulates in India. If emergency travel to the United States is required and an individual does not have a valid visa, some consulates may be accepting emergency appointments on a limited basis.

Archive – Marshawn Lynch, Dr. Fauci discuss vaccine hesitancy in Black, Hispanic communities

4/16/21 During Marshawn Lynch’s 12 NFL seasons he earned a reputation for his fearless style on the field, while remaining one of the league’s most reclusive figures off the field. Now the retired running back is lending his voice to try to help members of Black and Hispanic communities make more informed decisions about receiving COVID-19 vaccines. And he’s enlisted the assistance of the nation’s top infectious disease specialist to do it.
Lynch released a 30-minute interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci on his YouTube channel Friday, becoming the latest prominent athlete to sit down with the nation’s leading infectious disease expert to discuss the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines as the U.S. continues to combat the pandemic.

Indiaspora

A nonprofit organization, is a network of global Indian origin leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions who are committed to inspiring the diaspora to be a force for good by providing a platform to collaborate, build community engagement, and catalyze social change.

Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)

APIAHF and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) have collaborated on a combat hate crime toolkit that provides basic and critical information for victims, community based organization, and community leaders. Translated into 25 different languages, this information provides background on:
***Understanding the difference between a hate crime and hate incident ***Working with law enforcement and the media ***Checklist for community organizations ***Frequently asked questions Multi-Language: Arabic ***
Bengali ***
Burmese ***
Chinese (Simplified) ***
Chinese (Traditional) ***
Hindi ***
Hmoob / Hmong ***
Ilocano ***
Japanese ***
Khmer ***
Korean ***
Lao ***
Malayalam***
Nepali ***
Tagalog***
Telugu ***
Thai ***
Urdu ***
Vietnamese ***
Trukese / Chuukese ***
Hawaiian ***
Samoan ***
Tongan ***

ICE ends Trump-era policy of fining undocumented immigrants, calling penalties ‘ineffective’

4/23/21 Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer issue fines to undocumented immigrants who have failed to depart the United States, the agency announced Friday, a reversal from the Trump-era policy that threatened immigrants with thousands of dollars in debt to the federal government.
ICE officials said the agency rescinded the two Trump-era orders on the collection of financial penalties after determining the policy to be “ineffective,” and that it intends to cancel fines already issued to undocumented immigrants.

What Kids Can Do: Paying Attention to Children’s Capacities in the Pandemic

2/25/21 Opening up opportunities for children to get involved can make a tremendous difference to their recovery by increasing feelings of solidarity, empowerment, and interconnection. Still, the knowledge, creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and social networks that children have to offer could be better used.
We have consistently found that during times of crisis, children want to help. When they are given the opportunity, there are many things that they can do to support adults, other children, and themselves. We are now seeing evidence of this in the Covid-19 pandemic as well, although there has been little public discussion of it.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

1990 Recognizing that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling that, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance,

Statement by United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights

4/21/21 Discrimination in the Americas – Challenges and good practices – This past year has changed our lives in ways we still struggle to understand.
But in the midst of so many uncertainties, one thing comes clear: rarely have we seen such a powerful demonstration of the value of human rights.
COVID-19 and its impacts have been feeding off and exacerbating gaps in human rights protection; fault lines built on profound, intersecting and structural discrimination and inequalities.
The pandemic took the whole world by storm, but the tempest hit hardest in the Americas.

Bridging Divides, Creating Community: Arts, Culture, and Immigration

10/20 A creative placemaking field scan written by John C. Arroyo, Ph.D., AICP, in partnership with ArtPlace America. This field scan seeks to illuminate key priorities within the immigration sector and provide a framework for understanding the ways that arts and culture contribute to local, place-based immigration related outcomes. It is intended for artists and other arts and cultural stakeholders seeking to better understand and collaborate with a particular community development sector, as well as community development practitioners, policymakers, and funders who are interested in how arts and culture partners might further their work.

Taste of Belonging Cookbook

Welcoming America created this cookbook as a tool for meaningful connection across differences.
We paired recipes from diverse cultures with activities that connect people around a shared table and get them working together on a common goal. The three featured models apply the principles of intergroup contact theory, which we review in the next section. Each model has been tested in several regions of the United States, with people of various racial, ethnic, religious, and political identities and affiliations, and in all kinds of localities,
from small to large cities and in urban, rural, and suburban settings. At the end of the cookbook, you will find an overview of additional promising community building models.

Disability Access in Vaccine Distribution

4/12/21 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are Federal laws that protect qualified persons with disabilities from discrimination based on disability in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance.
HHS is available to assist covered entities in ensuring equitable vaccine distribution. OCR is available to provide technical assistance on Federal civil rights requirements and also investigates complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to access to vaccines. OCR has issued guidance on Federal Legal Standards Prohibiting Disability Discrimination in COVID Vaccination Programs as well as guidance about civil rights protections prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin and ensuring the civil rights of persons with limited English proficiency during COVID-19.

Best Practice Highlights – Latino/as and Hispanics

Latinos are a diverse community. There are many misconceptions and stereotypes about who Latinos are and about the history and presence of Latinos in the United States, including the difference between Latinos and Hispanics.
Latino culture is known for its collectivist- family orientation, the importance of personalismo (personal connectedness in interactions) and respect for authority. Conversely, an increase in rates of psychiatric disorders and suicide is seen with increasing acculturation or assimilation into American culture. Being bicultural and bilingual is actually protective for youth both academically and for mental health.

Archive – USCIS Announces Return to Deference Policy

4/28/21 Deference is back! USCIS announced that, effective immediately, it will reinstate its 2004 policy of deferring to prior determinations of eligibility.
Rescinded by the Trump administration, this policy directed officers to “generally defer to prior determinations of eligibility when adjudicating petition extensions involving the same parties and facts as the initial petition.” This means that prior determinations made by USCIS will receive deference unless “there was a material error, material change in circumstances or in eligibility, or new material information” that would have an adverse impact on eligibility.

The safety of health care for ethnic minority patients: a systematic review

7/8/20 A multitude of factors contribute to health inequity amongst ethnic minority populations including limited social support, lower health literacy, lower socio-economic status, greater incidence of ill health and a sense of disempowerment [1,2,3,4]. Access to care and language barriers have been the predominant focus of research, with evidence of failure to provide qualified interpreting services to people with limited English proficiency (LEP) as a key contributor to poor care outcomes

Report an Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident

Report an Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident
ADL believes people should not be targeted or treated unfairly because of their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or level of ability. If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of bias, bigotry, hate, antisemitism or extremism, please fill out our incident intake form below. We will do our best to investigate your situation and respond to you quickly. In an emergency, please dial 911.

2021 Cyberhate – Online Hate and Harrassment.pdf

According to the latest results from ADL’s annual survey of hate and harassment on social media, despite the seeming blitz of self-regulation from technology companies, the level of online hate and harassment reported by users barely shifted when compared to reports from a year ago.
This is the third consecutive year ADL has conducted its nationally representative survey. Forty-one percent of Americans said they had experienced online harassment over the past year, comparable to the 44% reported in last year’s “Online Hate and Harassment” report. Severe online harassment comprising sexual harassment, stalking, physical threats, swatting, doxing and sustained harassment also remained relatively constant compared to the prior year, experienced by 27% of respondents, not a significant change from the 28% reported in the previous survey.

Violence and hate against Asian Americans is a health and safety crisis for everyone

3/17/21 Public outings carry extra danger for Asian people, with a spate of recent attacks targeted against Asian elders that have resulted in racial trauma, injury, and death. Asian elders are perceived as vulnerable. Volunteer escorts, private guards and air horns aren’t enough. We need government support and commitment. Key Words: Hate Crime, AAPI

Right to Be (previously Hollaback!) Bystander Intervention Training to Stop Anti-Asian American and Xenophobic Harassment

In response to the rise in Anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment, we at Hollaback! partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC to adapt our free bystander intervention training as well as offering a de-escalation training to meet this moment.
Key Words: COVID-19, Pandemic