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Asbestos and Natural Disasters Guide

Written by Michelle Whitmer | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Scientifically Reviewed By Arti Shukla, Ph.D.

Natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes can damage asbestos-containing materials and lead to asbestos exposure among first responders, cleanup crews and nearby residents. Learn how to prevent asbestos exposure when preparing for and cleaning up after a natural disaster.

How Is Asbestos a Risk During a Natural Disaster?
A large number of homes and commercial buildings constructed prior to the 1980s were built with asbestos materials. Those products are considered safe as long as they are in good condition. But once ripped, broken, burned, blown or washed away, the products release toxic asbestos fibers into the air.

Breathing in these fibers in the aftermath of a natural disaster can lead to serious health conditions years later. The more someone is exposed to asbestos, the higher their risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as a cancer called mesothelioma.

Natural disasters pose dangers from the moment they occur. People don’t often consider health risks after a tornado rips through their neighborhood or a flash flood destroys their personal possessions.

Asbestos exposure isn’t an immediate danger such as live electrical wires, gas leaks or unstable infrastructure. It also isn’t as apparent as more obvious health risks such as black mold. Asbestos fibers are microscopic and travel by air or in clouds of dust, so you can be exposed and not even know it.

It is essential to consider and properly prepare for asbestos exposure prevention when planning for natural disasters and severe weather. Knowing how to keep safe from asbestos after a disaster can help prevent health conditions later in life.

Who Is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure During a Disaster?
As the first people on the scene, emergency response crews and early response volunteers face an increased risk for asbestos exposure in the wake of a natural disaster because of all the debris. The risk of health effects increases over time and depends upon frequency and amount of exposure to asbestos to these workers.
Top First Responder Occupations at Risk
Firefighters
Law enforcement officials
Emergency response workers (FEMA, American Red Cross, etc.)
Enlisted military (Coast Guard, Navy, Army, etc.)
Cleanup crew members (private contractors, state and local agencies,volunteers)
Homeowners of damaged properties also face these risks and should alwaysuse caution when cleaning or searching through debris.

Products Containing Asbestos
There are dozens of asbestos-containing products in older construction such as single-family homes, apartment complexes, office buildings, churches and schools. These products are considered safe if they are in good condition and left undisturbed in walls, floors and the ceilings and roofs of structures.

But natural disasters pose a threat to these products which can be damaged by winds, fires, floods and earthquakes.

If asbestos-containing materials are suspected during cleanup efforts, experts recommend you leave them alone. Stirring up asbestos-containing debris can result in airborne asbestos fibers, and exposure is highly likely at that point.

Common Household Materials Containing Asbestos
Roofing felt
Pipe lagging
Block insulation
Adhesives
Appliance components
Ceiling products
Cement board
Gardening products
Flooring
Paints
Roofing
Table pads
Wallboard
Insulation
Fireplace decorations
Taping compounds and plasters
Electrical insulation and panels
Heating and cooling systems
Asbestos Exposure Prevention After a Disaster
Different types of natural disasters present a variety of asbestos exposure risks. For example, tornados may carry asbestos debris from one location to another, while floods may contaminate local waterways and neighborhoods with asbestos materials.

Fires present a greater risk to firefighters than other emergency responders. Hurricanes pose a variety of exposure threats from related tornados and flooding.

please visit https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/natural-disasters/ for more information.

Air Now

EPA’s AirNow provides a simple way of quickly checking current and forecast air quality information for planning daily activities and protecting your health.Automatically displays the current AQI (Air Quality Index) for your local area or any area you wish to check. Also comprehensive information about wildfire smoke and air quality.

Air Now Resources in Spanish
https://www.airnow.gov/spanish-resources/

InformaGente

Listos CA launched InformaGente—an online conversation series to foster a culture of emergency readiness among Latinx communities. The goal is to connect our Latino community with critical information on COVID-19 and how to prepare for other emergencies like earthquake and wildfire. As frontline workers who often face challenges with issues like access to healthcare or serious concerns about immigration status, our goal is to deliver critical facts and messages that our community needs to hear.

Vietnamese Immigrants in the United States

In previous decades, the vast majority of Vietnamese immigrants to the United States arrived as refugees. Recently, most are coming through family reunification channels, either as immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or through other family-sponsored pathways. The change represents an evolution of the Vietnamese immigrant population, which is the sixth-largest in the United States and now includes more than 1.3 million people.

DREAMer’s Roadmap

HELPING UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FIND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A MOBILE APP. 

REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions

After the May 7, 2025 deadline, Federal agencies, including DHS and TSA, may only accept state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards as identification to access federal facilities – including TSA airport security checkpoints – if it was issued by a REAL ID compliant state (meaning the license or card must include the REAL ID compliant star marking). Additional questions may be sent to the Department of Homeland Security at REALID@hq.dhs.gov

NILC Workers Rights Report

On January 13, 2023, the Biden administration DHS issued new guidance on labor, based deferred action. The policy has already had a seismic impact on immigrants’ rights and workplace justice. The guidance empowers immigrant workers to file complaints with labor agencies, participate in labor investigations, and to build power together with U.S.-born workers—without the fear of potential deportation hanging over their heads.

Almost a Quarter of U.S. Population Vulnerable to Rising Heat

New Community Resilience Estimates For Heat Identify Areas Socially Vulnerable to Extreme Heat – When accounting for additional housing and transportation characteristics, more people in the United States are socially vulnerable or less resilient to rising heat temperatures.

Storm Season Safety Guide Multi-language

The state is sharing multilingual resources, deploying a network of community-based organizations through the Listos California campaign, and highlighting other work underway to protect at-risk communities this rainy season.

Heat Ready CA

Create your Personalized Extreme Heat Plan – Answer a few simple questions below and we’ll create a personalized Extreme Heat Plan with steps to keep you safe during an extreme heat event! This plan can be easily saved to your device, sent to your email, and more. Want to create an Extreme Heat Plan for someone else? You can create as many plans as you need. Just refresh the browser and begin again. Key Words: Climate Change

Enrollment Links to CA Counties Emergency Alerts

Each County in California has an alerting program that you can sign up for to receive alerts if an emergency situation were to arise in your county. If you work in one county, but you live in another, you can sign up for both. Just find your county in the list below to sign up! In most cases you will need to provide a mobile phone number and an email address.

FEMA Start Your Recovery Process Graphics

4 Step Flyer for loss reporting – Multi-Language:  English, Spanish, Arabic, Creole, Hindi, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, ƌlelo HawaiÊ»i (Hawaiian), Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese

USCIS Contact Center

Our website gives you several ways to track your case and get answers to your immigration questions.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES

8/1/21 This report contributes to a better understanding of the degree to which four socially vulnerable populations—defined based on income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and age —may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change in six categories: Air Quality and Health; Extreme Temperature and Health; Extreme Temperature and Labor; Coastal Flooding and Traffic; Coastal Flooding and Property; and Inland Flooding
and Property

Justice40 Initiative

1/27/21 The Justice40 Initiative seeks to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of investments in climate, clean energy, and related areas to disadvantaged communities. Using CEJST as a measure.

USA.gov

The new USA.gov helps you locate and understand government benefits, programs, and information.

AirNow.gov

The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides information that you can use to help protect your health from wildfire smoke.

Santa Clara County Dept of Health Climate and health

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department created a Climate and Health Program to respond to the climate crisis. The program helps our communities prepare and adapt to our changing environment. Several projects are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through a Building Resilience Against Climate Effects grant. These projects focus on adapting to high heat and poor air quality. Key Words: Climate Change.

E https://publichealth.sccgov.org/health-information/climate-and-health

Spotlight on the Changing Demographics of Hispanic Americans

9/28/23 With more than 62.5 million Hispanic Americans recorded in the 2021 American Community Survey, they now comprise 18.8% of the population. Hispanic households collectively earn more than ever—$1.4 trillion in 2021—allowing them to pay more than $333 billion in taxes. They also fill workforce gaps in industries that face severe labor shortages, such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and healthcare, making them vital to the U.S. economic engine.

Newly-Arrived Venezuelan Migrants Can Now Apply For TPS Protections.

Venezuelans who arrived in the United States on or before July 31, 2023 are now able to apply for temporary protections that will allow them to receive a social security number and work and live in the country legally, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday.

Lola Scholarship Fund

Lead filipino scholarships for current and incoming Filipino American college students

Lead Filipino

L.E.A.D Filipino stands for leadership, education, activism, and dialogue. LGBTZ Filipinx Summit, Lola Scholarship Fund,

Free Immigration Legal Support Services

Direct immigration legal services are available free of charge to​ ALL CSU students, recent Alumni, employees, and their immediate families.​​

Global Outreach Language Toolkit

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is committed to ensuring that all eligible Californians can get Medi-Cal coverage for themselves and their families. To foster collaboration with community organizations, DHCS introduced the Get Your Community Covered Resource Hub, offering a range of outreach materials in Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mien, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

By selecting options from the tabs below, you can conveniently access downloadable graphics, flyers, messaging, and other outreach resources about Medi-Cal coverage. These materials can help eligible Californians understand how to get health coverage, and many can be customized with contact information for local Medi-Cal Health ​​​​​​Enrollment Navigators and Medi-Cal offices.

For resources about Medi-Cal redeterminations, visit https://socialpresskit.com/keep-medi-cal-coverage.

IMPORTANT: Clicking on the file names will immediately begin downloading the files.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Full Scope ​MediCal Expansion for all ages – regardless of Immigration Status

Beginning January 1, 2024, a new law in California will allow adults ages 26 through 49 to qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status. All other Medi-Cal eligibility rules, including income limits, will still apply.

En Español

2023 was hottest year in decades

1/8/24  The European climate agency Copernicus said the year was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.66 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. That’s barely below the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit that the world hoped to stay within in the 2015 Paris climate accord to avoid the most severe effects of warming. … The 1.5 degree goal “has to be (kept) alive because lives are at risk and choices have to be made,” Burgess said. “And these choices don’t impact you and I but they impact our children and our grandchildren.”  Key Words:  Climate Change

Legal Rights Of Undocumented Immigrants Guide

From Legal Finders, a for profit Directory of Personal Injury Lawyers – Though some may mistakenly believe otherwise, non-citizens (also called undocumented immigrants) have a number of legal rights in the United States. These may include the right to due process and a jury trial in certain court proceedings, the right to payment for their work, the right to defend against deportation, and many more.

USCIS Explore my Options

This tool shows immigration options you might be eligible for, but we cannot guarantee that your application, petition, or request will be approved.

3 Ways to Make a ‘Breath Break’ Part of Your Daily Routine

The deep, methodical breathing works by stimulating the vagus nerve, which in turn triggers a calming response in the body. “Slowing your breath can lower your heart rate, release tension, and calm your nervous system, relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety” she explains. “It can also help take the focus (away) from thoughts that may be causing you tension, (and moving it) to your breath.”
This article describes three breath exercises to kick things off. Keu Words: Mental Health

Archive – 2019 Financial Literacy Annual Report

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) issued its Financial Literacy Annual Report for fiscal year 2019.
Promoting savings has also been a key part of the agency’s work. The Bureau launched Start Small, Save Up, an initiative to encourage the public to save and be better prepared for emergencies or unplanned expenditures. As part of the initiative, the Bureau launched a Savings Boot Camp, a multi-week email course to guide people through the fundamentals of savings.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the Bureau to report on its work to provide consumers with information to make informed decisions about financial products.

Silicon Valley Index Since 1995

The Silicon Valley Index has been telling the Silicon Valley story since 1995. Released early every year, the Index is a comprehensive report based on indicators that measure the strength of our economy and the health of our community – highlighting challenges and providing an analytical foundation for leadership and decision-making.  Produced by JOINT VENTURE SILICON VALLEY. Key Words: Santa Clara County, SCC, research, demographics

YOUTH IN THE SILICON VALLEY – Together We Raise

Dec 2016 Report – Immigrant youth make up a significant portion of both the population and the workforce in the Silicon Valley. An area famous for its economic wealth, the SV stands out for its deep disparities when it comes to the lives of undocumented immigrants. The report explores the obstacles young immigrants face when trying to access fair wages, housing and higher education. Key Words: DACA, Dreamers

Archive – 2014 Voices of Change Report – Nuestro Futuro Initiative

2014. The findings from over 6 months of community surveys and focus groups carried out by the Hispanic Foundation across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. More than 2,200 individuals participated. The majority of participants were immigrants, women, and low-income individuals with less than a high school education. In addition, most of the respondents had never been asked to give their input on quality of life issues before the survey. Key Words: Spanish, Latino, Latinx

US Living Wage Calculator

The tool helps individuals, communities, and employers determine a local wage rate that allows residents to meet minimum standards of living. Since 2020, childcare expenses are ground-truthed (established data values for all 3142 counties in the country). We collected data from providers and data aggregators with a focus wherever possible on registered child care centers.

Archive – 2018 San Jose Vietnamese Leadership Academy

7/6/18 In 2018 the San Jose Office of Immigrant Affairs partnered with VietUnity and Sacred Heart to pilot two Civic Leaders Academies, one for the Latino (in Spanish) and another for the Vietnamese community. The programs were designed to encourage leadership and civic engagement in the ethnic communities.
VietUnity produced this video of the Vietnamese American Civic Leaders Academy. Participants graduated after 7 weeks of learning, bonding, and building leadership. Key Words:

Silicon Valley Pain Index Annual Reports

Since 2020, the purposes of the annual Silicon Valley Pain Index [SVPI] reports are to: (1) Provide an efficient, easily digestible, statistical overview of structured inequalities to inform policy and practice in “Silicon Valley.” (2) Serve to measure Santa Clara County’s performance as a “human rights county,” which it declared in 2018.  They show that the wealth gap between White households and Black and Latino communities is widening at an unprecedented rate, and the trends shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

14 steps to America for Afghans

8/25/21 Afghans fleeing Kabul aren’t supposed to reach America’s shores until they’ve passed a multi-step vetting process ” 14 steps, in the case of some interpreters and others who helped the U.S military.
Where it stands: The U.S. has helped evacuate more than 70,000 Afghans since Aug. 14. Only a fraction are believed to have entered the U.S. ” though exactly how many isn’t clear.
The number was estimated last week at roughly 2,000, with 800 coming soon. Neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security could share updated numbers Tuesday evening.

VTA ACCESS paratransit service

VTA ACCESS paratransit service is provided to eligible individuals with disabilities who cannot use conventional accessible bus and light rail transit service due to their physical, visual or cognitive disabilities. Paratransit is shared ride public transportation, operating within the same service area and service times as VTA bus and light rail service. Fees = double current transit route fees. Multi-language:
English Brochure | Spanish Brochure | Vietnamese Brochure | Chinese Brochure | VTA ACCESS PARATRANSIT Rider’s Guide May 2023 Update Key Words: AFN,

VTA Transit App

The Valley Transit Authority is proud to officially endorse Transit as the best transit app for trip planning and real-time information. With Transit, you can easily plan your trip with up-to-the-minute accuracy and view arrival and departure times for nearby routes.
Download Transit in the App Store or Google Play.
Key Words: Public Transportation, Bus, Light Rail

Open Doors: Adult Education

A partnership of adult schools and community colleges in Santa Clara County helping students no matter where they are in their educational journey.
Open Doors caring and supportive staff has knowledge of the large assortment of free and low cost programs available for all levels of adult student.
Access services for adults with disabilities
Key Words: GED, HS Equivalency, ESL, SBCAE, SCC, Multi-language, Spanish</strong >, Vietnamese</strong >

Human Agenda CLARO Project

Human Agenda / CLARO offers free immigration telephone consultations and free and low-cost immigration legal services to low-income immigrant community members. These benefits include removal defense, affirmative and defensive asylum, cancellation of removal, U visa applications, and more. For more details, please contact us via email at claro@humanagenda.net or call 408-759-9571.  An attorney will contact you for the consultation within two weeks.  Multi-language: Spanish, Farsi</strong >

MALDEF

MALDEF’s mission is to foster sound public policies, laws and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 40 million Latinos living in the US and to empower the Latino community to fully participate in our society.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

Food, Health Care, Mental Health, Foster Care, Rental Assistance, Immigration Legal services,  refugee resettlement,  Disaster Casework., other free and sliding scale social programs for children, adults and seniors. provided in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, at offices in San Jose and Gilroy.   Member of the SCC Citizenship Collaboration and CADRE.  https://www.facebook.com/WorkingToEndPoverty/?ref=ts Key Words: RIF, CADRE, Disaster

Silicon Valley Indicators

The Silicon Valley Indicators website is an extensive and always fresh collection of charts and data on Silicon Valley’s economic and community health trends. Continuously updated with all the latest data, it also provides links to local, regional and national data sources, and resources for additional information within each of the indicator categories: People, Economy, Society, Place and Governance.   The Silicon Valley Index has been telling the Silicon Valley story since 1995. Released in February every year, the Index is a comprehensive report based on indicators that measure the strength of our economy and the health of our community highlighting challenges and providing an analytical foundation for leadership and decision making.

Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants

 Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants 

 Admin@CADRESV.org 1 2/3/23v3 

 #1 It’s safe for immigrants to seek help 

President Biden expanded the national Protected Areas Policy which states that immigration enforcement agents should not arrest or intimidate people at or near places where disaster relief is being provided: emergency response shelters, service centers, places along evacuation routes (such as roadside checkpoints) or where family reunification is underway 

*See page 2 for more Protected Areas 

#2 Everyone is eligible for disaster relief. 

Eligibility for help is based on disaster-related needs – not on immigration status or income. Everyone is eligible for immediate, non-cash emergency relief. Eligibility for some longer-term government programs may require at least one citizen or eligible immigrant in the household. But all immigrants should feel safe to ask for the help they need from the responding non-profit or faith-based organizations. 

CA state law (SB 2327) prohibits disaster relief workers from asking for unnecessary documents or from asking questions about an individual’s immigration status. No one should be denied emergency assistance due to a lack of personal documents, which may have been lost or destroyed in a disaster. 

#3 Accepting disaster assistance will not affect your immigration status 

Immigrants may be concerned that accepting disaster assistance could affect their immigration status. This is not true. The Public Charge Rule (Dec, 22) confirms that disaster assistance will not be considered in a public charge test when a person applies for a green card. This Public Charge Safe to Use List (see page 2**) also includes non-disaster-related benefits and services that are never considered, such as food, medical care, insurance, children’s programs, religious activities, education, and more. Disaster relief assistance is free and does not have to be repaid. 

#4 Everyone has rights – Report Concerns 

Everyone has a right to emergency information and assistance in a language they can understand and in a place they can access. Advocates and Service Providers can educate themselves and their communities on immigrant rights before a disaster. They can help identify and mitigate obstacles to access. Afterward, they can make sure people have the accurate information and necessary support to successfully apply for assistance. Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants 

Admin@CADRESV.org 2 2/3/23v3 

Links to Resources 

  • ‱ List of free and low-cost legal advice services in the San Francisco Bay Area 
  • ‱ Directory of California Rapid Response Networks to report ICE activities around protected areas – CA Collaborative for Immigrant Justice 
  • ‱ Multi-language Earthquake Safety Information – CADRE website 
  • ‱ Links to local, state and national resources and information – Immigrantinfo.org 
  • ‱ **Public Charge Safe to Use List (May, 21) English Spanish 
  • ‱ FEMA Government Disaster Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants (English) 10/9/20 

*Other Protected Areas: 

In addition to disaster or emergency response and relief activities, “protected areas” include: 

  • ‱ A school, such as a pre-school, primary or secondary school, vocational or trade school, or college or university. 
  • ‱ Places that provide social services “essential to people in need”: food banks, domestic violence shelters, facilities that serve disabled persons. 
  • ‱ Places where children gather, childcare centers, after-school programs, foster care facility, bus stops, and playgrounds. 
  • ‱ Medical treatment facilities: hospitals, doctor’s offices, COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites, mental health providers, community health centers, urgent care centers, places that serve pregnant people. 
  • ‱ A place where there is an ongoing parade, demonstration, or rally. 
  • ‱ Places of worship or religious study including temporary structures dedicated to activities of faith. 
  • ‱ A place where a funeral, graveside ceremony, rosary, wedding, or other religious or civil ceremonies or observances occur. 

2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Spanish

2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Vietnamese

2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-English 2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Spanish 2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Vietnamese 2-3-12 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Simplified Chinese

 

Final Public Charge Rule

12/23/22   Only those deemed likely to be primarily dependent on cash aid for income maintenance or long-term care at government expense could be denied for public charge.  Remember, the public charge test only applies to some programs and some immigrants.

Apply for Federal Student Loan Debt Relief  OMB No. 1845-0167, Exp. Date 4/30/2023

Apply for Federal Student Loan Debt Relief  OMB No. 1845-0167, Exp. Date 4/30/2023

Application is open, but debt discharge is paused.

As a result of a court order, we are temporarily blocked from processing debt discharges. We encourage you to apply if you are eligible. We will continue to review applications. We will quickly process discharges when we are able to do so and you will not need to reapply.

Dec. 31, 2022 is the day the pause on federal student loans expires. If you have outstanding debt after the amount forgiven, make sure that you have enough money set aside to begin resuming payments in January.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Abortion Access for Immigrants

This resource addresses immigrant-specific concerns and provides information on how to access abortions.

If you are applying for an immigration benefit or have questions about your status, you should talk with a qualified immigration lawyer.

This resource provides guidance on the following questions:

  • If abortion is legal in my state, can I get one even if I’m undocumented?
  • If I get an abortion, will it affect my immigration status or my ability to get my citizenship?
  • Can I travel to another state for an abortion if I am undocumented?
    What do I do if I can’t afford an abortion?
  • Can I get health care, including abortions, in my language?
  • What happens if I am undocumented and pregnant, and have a medical emergency?
    Is it safe to seek health care if I am undocumented?
  • Do I need to show an identification card to get health care?
  • Can I use medication for an abortion?
  • Can I self-manage my abortion without a health care provider?

2024 INTERFAITH CALENDAR

A listing of 2023 dates of the primary sacred times for world religions including Judaism, Islam, Buddhist, Hindu,
Christian, Baha’i, Zoroastrian, Sikh, Shinto, Jain, Confucian, Daoist, Native American, Materialism,
Secular Humanism and more. . Very convenient to avoid conflicts when scheduling events for multi-cultural populations.

Santa Clara Develops Infrastructure to Address Racial and Health Equity

Building on the results of health assessments and a revised strategic plan, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, California, is developing internal infrastructure to advance racial and health equity. This includes hiring dedicated staff to lead department-wide efforts, developing a training program for its public health workforce, and pilot testing the application of racial equity tools.

CADRE Connection Newsletter – December 2023

CADRE – (Collaborating Agencies’ Disaster Relief Effort) is the Santa Clara County chapter of NVOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster).  We are part of the network of local, state, and national VOADs.  CADRE provides free culturally appropriate disaster preparation training and facilitates collaboration between service providers.  During disasters, CADRE convenes nonprofits, faith-based and government entities to 1) Establish the current status of the emergency, 2) Connect like- organizations, 3) Develop relevant resources, and 4) Help find solutions, and 5) Give a voice to vulnerable populations in the disaster planning and relief process.

SCC Division of Equity and Social Justice (DESJ)

The DESJ departments provide numerous resources to the community. The Santa Clara County provides fiscal resources to numerous community organizations or agencies within the county to help best serve the community. The DESJ is a partner with many organizations to provide information, resources and leadership in efforts to assist the most marginalized individuals within the county. The DESJ is in the process of collecting available resource information to create guides that can be distributed to the community. Until this guide is available, please get informed with more specific information on how each department is providing resources by following their respective link below.

Final Public Charge Rule

12/23/22 Only those deemed likely to be primarily dependent on cash aid for income maintenance or long-term care at government expense could be denied for public charge. Remember, the public charge test only applies to some programs and some immigrants.

Tenant Power Tool Kit

We are in this together. This is how it works:
You answer some questions about your eviction and debt situation. We help you fight your eviction and your rent debt, link you with legal resources and tenants’ rights groups, and our housing justice work including collective action campaigns.

Multi-language: SPANISH

Dial 211 for Essential Community Services

In many states, dialing “211” provides individuals and families in need with a shortcut through what can be a bewildering maze of health and human service agency phone numbers. By simply dialing 211, those in need of assistance can be referred, and sometimes connected, to appropriate agencies and community organizations in the county where the caller is located. Key Words: Resource Directory. Multi-lingual:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |
Korean |

SCC Launches 988 Phone Number Dedicated to Crisis Mental Health Services

7/15/22 The lifeline, similar to 911, is staffed 24 hours a day, every day, and provides compassionate support to those having a mental health or substance use crisis
The service is free, anonymous, and confidential, with no information shared unless in-person dispatch is required. Calls to 988 are routed by area code; if the phone used does not have a 408, 650 or 669 area code, the Santa Clara County service can be accessed by calling 1-800-704-0900 and pressing 1. The same 800 number can be used for non-emergency calls to County Behavioral Health Services regarding general mental health and substance use treatment services information and referrals. Multi-Language: interpretation is available in more than 200 languages.

Visa Interview Wait Times Reach New Highs: 247 Days for Visitors / ?Business Travelers

7/19/22 The State Department is failing to fulfill its responsibilities under immigration law. The huge wait times are distorting the U.S. economy, its labor market, and international investment. They are harming U.S. businesses who need consumers and workers. They are keeping Americans and immigrants from being able to visit with their families. It is an embarrassment to our country, and it is completely unacceptable. Congress should investigate this failing department and require it to process visas in accordance with the law.

The Missing Link: Connecting Eligible Asylees and Asylum Seekers with Benefits and Services

Multiple options exist under current law to improve asylees’ links to the benefits and services for which they are eligible, as this report explores, and doing so would help support asylees’ well-being and integration. The U.S. communities in which they live would also reap benefits from these investments as asylees upskill to meet staffing shortages, contribute to local economies, and become active members of their communities.

Archive – Information for WIC Families on Infant Formula Availability

6/22 The infant formula supply chain problems have affected all consumers, including California families using WIC benefits to purchase formula. WIC families unable to find their regular formula can temporarily mix and match over 100 formulas found in the lists on this site. Please contact your local WIC office if you have any questions about your new options. This is the latest information and connect California families to helpful resources. Multi-language: Spanish

Listos SCC Disaster Directory

8/21 Listos has published directories for all 58 CA Counties in multiple languages Each directory provides:
* A brief profile of the county’s disaster risks
* Relevant vulnerabilities of its residents
* State and local alert resources for
* General emergencies
* Earthquakes
* Wildfires
* Public Safety Power Shutoffs
* Resources for people who are medically dependent on electricity
* State and county resources on COVID-19
Key Words: Language Access

Tests for people who are blind or have low vision

6/30/22 Testing is a critical part of the fight against COVID-19, but some people who are blind or have low vision face barriers using many of the COVID-19 tests on the market.
A new initiative to expand the availability of testing options that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. This initiative complements the Administration’s efforts to expand production of more accessible tests and work with private sector partners on the development of new accessible tests.
Order online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.

Inclusive Emergency Management Community

This Community brings together emergency management professionals and community stakeholders who are currently working in or interested in inclusive emergency management. The Community provides a space for us to access diverse connections, knowledge, experiences, and ideas that help us expand the inclusive emergency management movement and work smarter, more efficiently, and with less friction in our own roles.

Indigenous Language Justice in California

In 2017-18, the Mixteco/IndĂ­gena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Frente IndĂ­gena de
Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB), California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA), and the Binational
Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities (CBDIO) worked with a UC Davis
graduate researcher, Alena Uliasz, to conduct a community-based participatory research project.
Here, we share our recommendations to promote language justice for speakers of Latin American Indigenous languages in California. Multi-language: Mixteco, Spanish Key Words: Language Access

Silicon Valley DeBug

Silicon Valley De-Bug is a community organizing, advocacy, and a multimedia storytelling organization based out of San JosĂ©, California. Since its’ inception in 2001, De-Bug has been a platform for Silicon Valley’s diverse communities to impact the political, cultural, and social landscape of the region, while also becoming a nationally recognized model for community-based justice work.

VIISTA – Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates

VIISTA is one of the first university-based online certificate program to train immigrant advocates. Designed by an interdisciplinary team of leading faculty, lawyers, and NGOs, VIISTA revolutionizes education about the law by educating legal advocates (akin to nurse practitioners in health care). Students who complete the program will be eligible, under existing regulations, to apply to become Department of Justice “accredited representatives,” authorized to provide low-cost legal representation to migrant and refugee families when they work for DOJ “recognized organizations.”

HANDA California

Audio recordings in Mexican Indigenous languages. There’s a recording for Preparing for Disaster Safety Tips in Mixteco, Zapoteco, Triqui, Chatino, Tlapaneco, Purepecha, and MAM. Key Words: Language Access, Translation, Spanish

Archive – FEMA Diversity Awareness Course IS-0020.22:

2022 This course recognizes the benefits of diversity in our workforce and FEMA’s commitment to valuing the diversity of its employees and customers. By the end of this course, you will be able to:
**Define what is meant by diversity.**Describe how diversity benefits us individually and collectively.**State FEMA’s Vision of Diversity.**Describe the agency’s commitment to diversity as stated in FEMA’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan.**Describe how culture influences our interactions with others.**Describe the actions you can take to optimize diversity.3 Employees Looking at Computer Monitor Clock
This course should take approximately 60 minutes to complete.

California makes history with food benefits for undocumented residents

6/28/22 California will become the first state to provide undocumented residents over age 55 with state-subsidized food assistance benefits. On Sunday night, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an agreement on the 2022-2023 state budget, which includes $35.2 million in funding to expand the California Food Assistance Program to low-income people 55 years and older, regardless of immigration status; the funding is expected to increase to $113.4 million annually in 2025-26
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Accessibility Checker

Many programs have accessibility checkers that are built-in or easy to add after a simple internet search. For example, the Microsoft Office Suite includes a handy accessibility checker that makes it quick and easy to review a Word document for accessibility. While this automated checker doesn’t always catch every issue, it’s a great starting point. The checker offers tips for fixing issues and can teach you to avoid making the same mistakes again.