STRUCTURAL COMPETENCY

Clinical training often restricts the scope of cultural competency training to the beliefs and behaviors of individual patients. Structural competency aims to develop a language and set of interventions to reduce health inequalities at the level of neighborhoods, institutions and policies.

A Mental Wellness Activity Book for ASIAN AMERICANS

The University of Connecticut’s Asian and Asian American Studies Institute has partnered with the #IAMNOTAVIRUS campaign and the Asian American Literary Review to provide students with this Mental Health Workbook. With the way that the world is now, many of us are struggling. Wellness and mental health are not often recognized as important issues for Asian Americans and we are 3 times less likely to seek mental health services than our White peers. At the Institute we believe that Asian American Studies is good for your health because it connects you to the history, culture, and politics of the life and struggle of our communities.

California 1st to Set Quota Limits for Retailers Like Amazon

9/22/21 California on Wednesday became the first state to bar mega-retailers from firing warehouse workers for missing quotas that interfere with bathroom and rest breaks under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that grew from Amazon’s drive to speed goods to consumers more quickly.
The measure also bars Amazon, the online retail giant, and similar companies from disciplining workers for following health and safety laws and allows employees to sue to suspend unsafe quotas or reverse retaliation. The bill applies to all warehouse distribution centers, though proponents were driven by Amazon’s dominance.

Peninsula Rides San Mateo County Senior Mobility Guide

Peninsula Rides provides information about transportation options to people with mobility challenges so they can get around in and beyond San Mateo County.
Learn more about the 30+ transit options available to you, both public and private, in one easy-to-search website.
interactive “Find Your Ride” tool
Multi-language:
Spanish |
Chinese | Key Words: AFN, transportation

Welcome to the United States: A Guidebook for Refugees

2012 The Welcome set is comprised of two COR Center resources: Welcome to the US: A Guidebook for Refugees and its complementary DVD, Welcome to the United States: Refugee Guide to Resettlement. These resources, developed at the request of the Department of State, Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), are designed to support overseas Cultural Orientation, as well as for use in initial domestic orientation or by refugees directly. Multi-language: English, Arabic, Burmese, Farsi, Karen, Kinyarwanda, Nepali, Somali, Swahili

Operation Blue Roof

Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for FEMA. Operation Blue Roof aims to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until permanent repairs are made. This program is a free service to homeowners. This program is for primary residences or a permanently occupied rental property with less than 50 percent structural damage.

Employer Liabilities and Considerations for Requiring Vaccinations – Recording

SVCN Webinar Recording Answering Questions About Vaccine Mandates for CA Non-Profits.
Can our nonprofit require our employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment?
Do we have to provide alternatives to vaccination?
Are there any conditions where employees will be exempt from being vaccinated?
Hear the answers to questions like these from attorney Sarju A. Naran (Employment Law, Hoge Fenton), who discussed the legal and practical considerations of what nonprofits need to know about requiring vaccinations in the workplace. Key Words: Employers

Afghan Coalition

Formed in 1996, Afghan Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. We are dedicated to strengthening Afghan families, improving their access to social services, and building a strong and united Afghan American community. Located at the Family Resource Center in Fremont, CA, the Afghan Coalition is the largest Afghan-American organization in the US. Serving over 1,000 community members per year, particularly immigrant women and children, bilingual/bicultural advocates bridge the language and cultural gaps between community members and financial and social services.
Little Kabul
Key Words: Refugee

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.

Archive – Afghan American Foundation Emergency Resource List

8/17/21 In this moment of humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, please consider donating directly or otherwise supporting established, vetted and reputable organizations working in Afghanistan and in support of the Afghan people. The list below has been compiled includes organizations/efforts that AAF board members and other community individuals have placed a great deal of trust into. Emergency Donations links to reputable organizations providing life-saving care in Afghanistan are included

Gavilan College Food Pantry

8/24/21 On campus food pantry and free drive through food distribution at Gavilan College Gilroy campus This is open to the community and folks are required to pre-register online. Also help with application for CalFresh.
For more information, email us at foodpantry@gavilan.edu agutierrez@gavilan.edu www.gavilan.edu/calworks www.gavilan.edu/freshsuccess www.gavilan.edu/foodpantry www.gavilan.edu/resources Key Words: Education,

DCARA ASL Interpreting

DCARA Interpreting is a deaf managed non profit providing interpreting services which allows for on site and video communication between hearing people and deaf people in Bay Area, California. request@dcara.org 510-722-7004 Multi-language: ASL Key Words: SCC Language Access

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

SJPL Family Learning Centers

Family Learning Centers (FLCs) offer free learning opportunities, resources and services for adults and families. The Centers are designed to support:
English Language Learners (ELL)
Immigrants
Adults with Intellectual and Learning Disabilities
Older Adults/Seniors
Members of underserved and underrepresented communities
programs include education, technology and skills-building opportunities. Multi-language
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese Simplified |
Chinese Traditional |

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.

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

La Cooperativa Campesina de California

A 501 c (3) corporation, is the statewide association of agencies implementing and administering farm worker service programs including employment training, advocacy and disaster relief. Members: California Human Development Corporation (CHDC) | Center for Employment Training (CET) | Central Valley Opportunity Center (CVOC) | Employers’ Training Resource (ETR) | Proteus, Inc. | Multi-language: Spanish

Proteus, Inc.

Complementing its employment training and placement services, Proteus provides childcare and youth educational programming, safety training, and energy assistance. In addition to service centers, Proteus, Inc operates mobile service units to increase availability and impact on rural areas. Multi-language: Spanish
Counties Served: Fresno, Kings, Kern, Tulare and Los Angeles Member of
La Cooperativa Campesina

California Human Development (CHD)

bilingual programs in 13 counties to 15,000 individuals annually. CHD’s offerings include job training and placement assistance for rural laborers as well as tutoring, mentorship, and career advising for farmworker youth. CHD also provides affordable housing and energy services, criminal justice services, citizenship and immigration aid, and healthcare and disability services.
Multi-language: Spanish
Counties Served: Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Yolo, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, Contra Costa, Butte, and Colusa. Member of
La Cooperativa Campesina

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.”

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 |   ChineseCA Specific Public Charge Test Guide

5/1/23 MediCal Update

Santa Clara County wants employers to require vaccines for employees

7/22/21 Health officers from three Bay Area counties announced Thursday that they want all employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with few exceptions.
“With the rise in COVID-19 cases leaving unvaccinated individuals at risk for serious illness and death, the health officers of Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties strongly urge all employers to consider implementing workplace COVID-19 safety protocols that require their workforce to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible” said Dr. George Han, deputy health officer for Santa Clara County. “We know vaccines are the best tool we have to combat COVID-19 and they are safe and effective even in the context of the Delta variant.”

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

San Francisco Respect and Love Toolkits

This toolkit serves as a practical demonstration of San Francisco’s commitment to serve and support all people. These resources are available for those who live in fear
stemming from their immigration status and to educate and inform their allies. The toolkit includes ways to identify and find support for newcomers, ensuring that San
Francisco is a safe and inclusive city for everyone, offering access to important services geared toward integration and inclusion. This is a snapshot of the services available in San Francisco; for a more comprehensive look, please visit www.sfgov.org/oceia/immigrant-affairs or call 311 and press 3 for “other services.” Key Words: Sanctuary Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Arabic |
Russian

More Contagious Delta Variant Now Dominating California

7/7/21 The rapid spread of the more contagious Delta variant is now causing concern among health officials who warn of a possible outbreak of the infection in communities with low vaccination rates.
While people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may have high protection levels against the more transmissible variant, people who have not yet received vaccine shots have fallen ill, according to a data analysis by the Los Angeles Times.
The Delta variant is believed to be at least 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant… Key Words COVID-19

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.

State rent relief program serves South Bay residents

7/16/21 When California started its COVID-19 rent relief program in April with a plan to disburse $33 million in federal funds to San Jose residents, the city and Santa Clara County decided to run their own joint program for extremely low income households.
But this hybrid approach creates problems, state officials say.
“We have two programs in the same area”¦ which just creates a really difficult logistical scenario for both of us” said Jessica Hayes, branch chief of disaster recovery for California’s Department of Housing and Community Development. “It created this very complicated process of trying to figure out how to send people to the right place, and if they didn’t get them to the right place, trying to figure out how not to compromise their information.”

From fields to the frontlines- Chava Bustamante inspires next generation

7/16/21 Bustamante came to the US from Mexico in 1968 and worked in the fields for the next 12 years. He came into contact with the United Farm Workers union in Salinas, and participated in his first strike that year. He formally joined the union in 1975.
The labor organizer, who recently stepped down as executive director of Latinos United for a New America (LUNA), was striking with the United Farm Workers in Salinas. He was sentenced to three months in Monterey County Jail for the strike, and upon release he took a long walk back home and started thinking about his future.

Without masks, even the fully-vaccinated can play a part in spreading the COVID Delta variant

6/30/21 As cases of the Delta variant continue to multiply, L.A. County health officials warn this newly-minted “Pandemic of the Unvaccinated” will start to take a dangerous turn.
The county health department “strongly” recommended people mask indoors in public places regardless of vaccination status. The reason is the increased spread of the far more contagious Delta variant.
“It’s 50 to 60% more contagious than the Alpha variant which is 50 to 60% more contagious than the original,” said Dr. Kenneth Kim with Ark Clinical Research in Long Beach.

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.

Gov. Newsom, lawmakers agree to extend eviction ban, cover back rent

6/25/21 The proposal ” funded by $7.2 billion in federal and state money ” would fully reimburse landlords for debt accrued by tenants during the pandemic and cover missed utility bills, making it among the most generous packages in the country. It also directs money toward city and county relief programs overwhelmed with demand, and it allows renters to directly receive relief payments even if their landlords refuse to apply.
The bill extends an eviction ban to September 30, the third extension of renter protections since Newsom’s executive order in March 2020. The emergency bill needs approval of the legislature by Wednesday. KEY WORDS: covid-19, Pandemic

Free WiFi Hotspots for Low Income SJ Families

6/25/21 CreaTV is working to bridge the digital divide and we’ve got you connected! If you or anyone in your household is under the age of 24 and needs a stable internet connection or has challenges with speeds or data caps, Wifi hotspots are available for a year at no charge to low-income households in San José. We are here to help you stay on top of all your virtual activities and summer learning goals. For more information and to see if you qualify please call (408) 200-2421 or email community@creatvsj.org

SJ Language Access Policy

11/10/16 The purpose of this policy is to ensure that San Jose City employees make reasonable efforts to minimize
barriers to accessing City programs or services for customers with limited English proficiency and ensure equal access regardless of language proficiency and cultural background.
The City will make reasonable efforts to notify the public about its limited English proficiency policies for department programs and services and how to access language assistance services through departmental websites, translated documents, and community-focused outreach.
Multi-language I Speak Cards
Key Words: Cultural Competence, Disaster, LEP, SCC Language Bank

Older undocumented immigrants to get Medi-Cal health care in CA

6/30/21 California plans to extend Medi-Cal health coverage to some 235,000 low-income undocumented immigrants over the age of 50 – offering the most expansive health coverage in the nation to people without legal residency.
The state already offers Medi-Cal health care to immigrant children and young adults under the age of 26. This latest expansion, once it receives final approval, will mean that many undocumented immigrants, except those who are 26 to 50, will be eligible.

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

What to do if you lost your Vaccine Card

5/24/21 With California quickly reopening, and businesses increasingly requiring proof of vaccines from employees and customers, it’s time to remember where you stashed your precious COVID-19 vaccination card. It could soon become like a second ticket required for sporting events, international travel and a return to some semblance of normalcy. So what happens if you lost it ” or the dog ate it ” or maybe you never got a card in the first place?
Here’s what you need to know about how to get a new vaccine card, where to store it and more.

Demand for Silicon Valley food pantries remains high

5/30/21 Second Harvest served 250,000 people pre-pandemic. But since last year, the food bank has doubled its number of beneficiaries. According to a recent survey of food pantry clients conducted by Second Harvest, 57% of respondents reported having less than $100 in savings. More than 70% of respondents indicated that someone in their household lost a job or had work hours reduced due to the pandemic.
A recent report by the California Association of Food Banks says that statewide food insecurity increased 2.5 times in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels, affecting 10 million Californians.

Free Ride to Vaccine Clinics

Anyone can call 408-809-2124 (TTY 408-321-2330) to request a free round trip ride to any Santa Clara County sponsored vaccination site, at least 2 days before. Also, assistance with making an appointment if requested. Driver will wait and take rider home. Up to 3 people in a party. Children under 18 yrs must have a guardian.

Archive – California says changes ahead for rental relief programLandlords, tenants say relief has been slow

6/10/21 After widespread criticism from tenants and landlords, state officials said Thursday they plan to streamline applications and step-up outreach efforts to more quickly deliver $2.6 billion in emergency rental assistance.
Despite nearly 200,000 applications requesting $543 million to cover unpaid rent, just $40 million has been distributed across California, according to state data. Advocacy groups continued to sound alarms, saying the state needs to accelerate the distribution of relief checks or risk a wave of evictions when a state moratorium expires June 30.
Housing is Key COVID-19 Rent Relief App

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.

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.

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

Guide to Promoting Immigrant Health

Undocumented Californians have the legal right to use public services.
A collection of multi-language public messages on resource eligibility for undocumented immigrants, powerpoints and downloadable materials for service providers to educate immigrants on their rights.
Info on Public Charge, COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, MediCare, EITC, language interpretation rights, and more.

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

Alternative Housing Is a Wildfire Recovery Solution in Northern California

4/19/21 Housing has been the most discussed topic within the communities affected by the Camp Fire that occurred in Northern California in November 2018. The disaster destroyed nearly 19,000 physical structures in the town of Paradise and nearby unincorporated communities in Butte County. Sadly, former residents of now burn-scarred communities still face many challenges on their path to having a place they can confidently call home, even months or years later.
Agencies and individuals are aggressively seeking different housing solutions, hoping to rebuild the town and communities despite all the obstacles that arise on the way. While focusing on disaster case management, Tzu Chi volunteers are also proactively involving themselves and collaborating with partner agencies to pursue feasible housing solutions. Key Words: Tiny Homes, 3D Printing

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.

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.

Bridging Differences Playbook

According to Dr. Allport, “Only the type of contact that leads people to do things together is likely to
result in changed attitudes”1
. Intergroup contact is especially likely to decrease prejudice between
groups when it occurs under specific conditions.
Activities that incorporate these conditions are known as “intergroup bridging” activities. Intergroup
contact theory2
proposes that the following conditions should be met to allow for successful intergroup
bridging to occur:
Members of the different groups must have equal status. One group cannot be treated as
“less than” or “lower status” than any other, e.g. instructor/student relationship.
Members of the different groups must hold a common goal they wish to achieve.
Members of the different groups must agree to work together cooperatively to ensure that
groups are not competing against one another.
There must be i

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.

COVID-19 CA Emergency Rent Relief Program

The Eviction Moratorium expired on 3/31/22 and applications are no longer being accepted for the CA Rent Relief program. If you submitted a complete application prior to March 31, 2022, and are pending a final decision from the program, state law provides eviction protections against unlawful detainer actions as a result of nonpayment of rent for the months of eligible assistance you requested. These state level protections are in place until June 30, 2022.
Check the status of your submitted application HERE
. To request additional support with your application, call the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief call Center at 833-430-2122.
For additional questions regarding legal protections that may be available to you, please visit www.lawhelpca.org/ for more information.
Multi-language: English, Spanish |
Chinese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Tagalog
Key Words: Pandemic

Months into rollout, barriers hinder vaccine access for Latino and Black Californians

4/15/21 Halfway into April, the vaccination rollout continues to lag for many Latino and Black Californians. Bay Area community leaders, residents and experts say that multiple factors, including the technological savvy required to make appointments, a lack of centralized information about how to get the shots, and inconsistent services from community clinics have combined to make every step of the process a challenge for people who are most at risk for getting sick.

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.

Our Post-Covid Lives Shouldn’t Go Back to ‘Normal’ – They Should Go Back Better

4/2/21 Op-Ed By Susan Ellenberg
Covid-19 stripped down our support structures and shone an unforgiving light on the pre-existing gaps in services for our county’s families, specifically as they relate to health, food and internet access.
Those gaps are holding our community back and it is our collective responsibility to not only bridge those gaps but take us further together.
Key Words: COVID-19, Pandemic, Equity

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Update

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.  The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.

The death must have occurred in the US, including the US territories, and the District of Columbia.
The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. The applicant must be a US citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after 1/20/20.  There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a US citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

There is no on line application.  Once you have phoned in, supporting documentation can be emailed, faxed or mailed.  ***COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585 ***
FEMA Funeral Application Video   
FAQ   Multi-language:  SpanishChineseVietnamesePortugueseCreole |  Bengali   Russian     Arabic  

Key Words: Pandemic

Santa Clara County To Launch Mobile COVID Vaccination Unit After Receiving $200K Donation

3/29/21 SCC officials and the chief executive of San Jose-based Bloom Energy on Monday announced a $199,000 donation to the Valley Medical Center Foundation to cover the purchase cost of a mobile COVID-19 vaccine unit.
The vaccination unit will target residents who are homebound, elderly and disabled as well as residents that live in the county’s underserved areas that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Key Words: Disaster

California’s reopening plan includes no equity benchmarks for hard-hit communities

4/11/21 California began a 10-week countdown to a full reopening last week, with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s bold proposal to lift nearly all coronavirus restrictions by June 15. But the ambitious plan contains no specific protections for vulnerable populations, sparking fears the state is about to repeat mistakes that devastated the Latino community last year.
The omission was surprising, considering that Newsom’s announcement was triggered by the delivery of 4 million vaccine doses to disadvantaged neighborhoods, a key goal that the state had set to address inequalities in the state’s inoculation efforts. In recent weeks, Newsom and other state officials have referred to equity as the “north star” of the pandemic response.

Veggielution Community Farm

Veggielution Community Farm was created in 2008 to help people make healthy food choices and provide opportunities for connecting with the natural world. We are fostering a sustainable food system through our urban farm that engages the community by providing access to organic and local food, creates youth leadership opportunities, and develops creative solutions to environmental and social justice issues. Veggielution partners with GFS and 3 other local agencies in the Sí Se Puede! Collective. Multi-language: Spanish

Cancer CAREpoint

Cancer CAREpoint provides personalized Counseling, Assistance, Resources & Education to all Silicon Valley cancer patients, survivors, families & caregivers at no cost. Multi-language: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi

Alum Rock Counseling Center

Our programs entail working with parents of infants & teens, keeping at-risk youth in a drug and violence-free school environment as well as on-site crisis counseling. We proudly serve all of Santa Clara County. info@alumrockcc.org Multi-language: Spanish

Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley

BUSINESS ACADEMY – One of the main causes for new small business operations to close is due to lack of knowledge in business planning and operations. Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley has created a Small Business Academy Program aimed to provide small business owners with the training, education and coaching to plan, organize, direct, execute and control their resources in order to obtain maximum benefit and achieve sustainable positive results.
Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley recognizes the common obstacles women owned businesses often face and has developed workshops designed to assist the participants to overcome these struggles.

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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

Right to Be (previously Hollaback!) Anti-Harrassment Training and Tool Kits

Right to Be is a global, people-powered movement to end harassment ” in all its forms. We believe that we all deserve to be who we are, wherever we are.
We believe we all have a role to play in disrupting harassment and building a culture where it is no longer seen as “just the price you have to pay” for being a woman, LGBTQ+, a person of color, or any other marginalized identity. We teach people to take action, and to reach across their own identities to ally with others and establish a united front against harassment each time we witness it. Key Words: Free Bystander Intervention Intervention Training, Hate Crime

Archive – Oakland clinic offers Mayan interpreter for COVID-19 vaccinations

3/19/21 This month, La Clinica de La Raza began offering the community-targeted vaccination service at 32 locations across the Bay Area, including ASCEND Elementary School on East 12th Street, where Latinos who speak Mam, K’iche ‘and Q’eqchi’ can get translation help from appointment to inoculation on Thursdays.
There are over 22 different Mam dialects spoken primarily by people of Guatemalan and Mexican descent. According to a recent UC San Francisco study, Mayan people with Guatemalan roots are the fastest-growing ethnic group in Oakland.

How the Bay Area failed Latino residents during the COVID crisis

3/14/21 Case rates for Latino residents are nearly four times higher than for White residents, analysis shows. Why?
Public health leaders’ centerpiece strategy, the nation’s first and strictest stay-at-home orders instituted one year ago, proved ill-suited for a population whose members often live in crowded housing and have no alternative to working outside the home. And local and state governments were slow to muster the focus and resources that might have made a real difference, even as community advocates pleaded for more action.
Key Words: Pandemic, Coronavirus

Their East San Jose neighbors were dying. So frustrated community leaders formed their own COVID task force

3/14/21 Magdalena Carrasco’s frustration was boiling over. More than a third of Santa Clara County’s first coronavirus deaths had swept through just four ZIP codes in the East San Jose community where she had grown up.
She wasn’t surprised by the outsized toll on the City Council district she represented: While office workers stayed home, traffic had hardly eased in East San Jose as residents went to their shifts as cooks, cleaners and grocery store employees.
Yet as of mid-May, the two testing sites in East San Jose were open only by appointment on weekdays, and many Spanish speakers still didn’t know what to do if they got sick on the job.
Key Words: Pandemic, Coronavirus

Mortgage help from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

There is free foreclosure help. If anyone tries to charge you in advance for help or guarantees that they can stop your foreclosure, they’re not legitimate.
If you’re behind on your mortgage, or having a hard time making payments, we want to get you in touch with a HUD-approved housing counselor”they’ve been sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Your counselor can develop a tailored plan of action for your situation and help you work with your mortgage company. They’re experienced in all of the available programs and a variety of financial situations. They can help you organize your finances, understand your mortgage options, and find a solution that works for you.

Recording of Discussion on Accessibility of Red Cross Disaster Services

3/15/21 American Red Cross (ARC) provides disaster relief services all day, every day, where ever needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them the most. The purpose of ARC is to meet the immediate disaster-caused needs of individuals, families, and communities. This session addresses the mission and services of American Red Cross and how those service look amidst COVID a concurrent disaster. This session will also address inclusive practices, and discuss functional and access needs for individuals and families seeking supports and how ARC can accommodate.
This training is part of the first-ever Disaster Resilience Awareness by Disability Rights Texas.
Key Words: AFN, disabilities

After months of pressure from advocates, detained immigrants in California now eligible for vaccine

3/16/21 California public health officials say that people in federal immigration detention in facilities located in the state will now be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, KQED reports. State health officials said in an announcement that individuals “who reside or work in a high risk congregate residential setting, such as an incarceration/detention facility” which would include people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, would now be prioritized for the vaccine.

Archive – What Santa Clara County renters, landlords should know about evictions

3/16/21 Renters affected by the pandemic likely took a sigh of relief when, early this year, California lawmakers extended the statewide ban on evictions for those facing financial hardships until the end of June. The law also created a rental assistance program to help lift lower-income renters out of rental debt. The program started taking applications this week.
The application does not ask for or require proof of citizenship. Multi-language: Spanish ***
List of Organizations Helping Renters with Applications
Key Words: Undocumented

PG&E power shutoffs could become more frequent

3/23/21 SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) ” A federal judge overseeing Pacific Gas & Electric’s criminal probation said Tuesday that he is considering requiring the utility to be more aggressive about turning off its electricity lines near tall trees, a plan that could double the number of power outages for some Northern California counties over the next decade.
The proposal outlined during a two-hour court hearing is the latest effort to prevent the utility’s equipment from sparking more deadly wildfires by reducing the likelihood that trees could fall into the utility’s long-neglected electrical equipment.

Expand Ability

Expandability’s mission is to provide support and services that aim to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities by supporting and developing their abilities through advocacy and meaningful employment. Services currently provided virtually due to COVID-19. A program of Goodwill of Silicon Valley
Key Words: AFN, job search, disability