Archives: Resources

Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants

 Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants 

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 #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 

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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?

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 – September 2022

This month’s issue has information on extreme heat, new multi-language resources, CADRE webinars on personal preparedness in the workplace and disaster activities of local faith based organizations and much more.

CADRE – Collaborating Agencies’ Disaster Relief Effort – is the VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) for Santa Clara County.  We are part of the network of local, state, and national VOADs. 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”Âť 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 |

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Silicon Valley Pain Index: Income gap widens along racial lines

6/22/22 For three years now, the San Jose State professor Scott Myers-Lipton has held a mirror to Silicon Valley’s staggering wealth divide, and reflected the racial disparities: Less than 1% of the Valley’s households account for 25% of the region’s bountiful wealth, while more than 45% of the Valley’s children live in households that cannot cover basic needs.
The wealth gap between White households and Black and Latino communities is widening at an unprecedented rate, according to the third annual Silicon Valley Pain Index released Wednesday, and the trends shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

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

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.

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

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,”Âť authorized to provide low-cost legal representation to migrant and refugee families when they work for DOJ “recognized organizations.”

Disaster & Religion App

The Disaster and Religion App.helps disaster responders better serve America’s diverse religious communities and build partnerships with religious leaders, with easily accessible religious literacy and competency information on 27 unique religions. It was created by the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), and the University of southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC).

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.

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.

DISABILITY INFORMATION AND ACCESS LINE (DIAL)

7/1/22 COVID-19 vaccination support for people with disabilities. DIAL was created through a partnership between the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help older adults and people with disabilities get
COVID-19 vaccines.
888-677-1199 Monday-Friday 6:00am. to 5pm PT
or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org Key Words: Information & Referral, Pandemic

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.

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

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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40% of AAPI LGBTQ youths have considered suicide in last year

4/20/22 The survey from the Trevor Project found that 40 percent of LGBTQ youths who are Asian American or Pacific Islander, or AAPI, have seriously considered suicide in the past year. Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian youths experienced the highest rate, at 49 percent, followed by Korean American youths, at 47 percent, and Filipino American youths, at 41 percent.
The report also includes responses from Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese American LGBTQ youths.

REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTER (RPC)

The Refugee Processing Center (RPC) is operated by the U.S Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) in the Rosslyn section of Arlington, Virginia USA.
At the RPC and at Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs), an interactive computer system called the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS) is used to process and track the movement of refugees from various countries around the world to the U.S. for resettlement under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

FACT SHEET: The Biden Administration Blueprint for a Fair, Orderly and Humane Immigration System

7/27/21 Today the Administration is releasing a blueprint that outlines the next steps Federal agencies will be taking to continue implementing the President’s transformative vision for a 21st century immigration system that secures the border, fairly and efficiently considers asylum claims, strengthens regional migration management efforts in North and Central America, and addresses the root causes of migration from Central America. Success in building this fair, orderly, and humane immigration system won’t be achieved overnight, especially after the prior Administration’s irrational and inhumane policies, but this Administration has a blueprint to get there and is making real progress.

Santa Clara County leaders want office to track hate crimes

6/5/22 The Board of Supervisors recently directed county workers to come up with a plan for implementing dozens of recommendations for addressing hate crimes. This would include developing a reporting system for hate-based incidents and making data about these incidents more transparent to the public. The board also asked for more details about the creation of a new county office that would receive and track reports of hate incidents and crimes. The San Jose Police Department reported 116 hate crimes in 2021, compared to 89 in 2020 and 33 in 2019. This is part of a broader pattern in California where the overall number of hate crimes increased from 1,015 in 2019 to 1,330 in 2020.

Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities

Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo IndĂ­gena Oaxaqueno – Serving the indigenous migrant communities from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico that reside in CA. (CBDIO) works to increase the participation of indigenous women in the life of the migrant community by providing training and promotion of gender equality, so that they may exercise self-determination in their civic lives.
CBDIO also promotes health education on prevention and treatment of different illnesses.
Located in Fresno, Greenfield, and Madera, but offer translation services for the following indigenous languages: Mixteco, Triqui, Tlapaneco, Zapoteco, Punjabi translations. COVID-19 audio recordings for some Indigenous languages that are not written. Key Words: Language Access, Interpreter

CIELO Indigenous Interpreters

The fundamental piece of CIELO’s work is to create new leadership and nurture the growth of leaders through the National Indigenous Interpreters conference and the continuous CIELO’s workshops that are held all year long.
Multi-language: Indigenous, Spanish Key Words: Translation, Mixteco, Language Access

Cultural Quick Reference Guides

These two-page Cultural Quick Reference Guides support the provider-client relationship by giving country-specific information on cultural norms, health practices, and courtesies to observe to enhance communication. Languages and literacy, personal greetings, naming conventions, and non-verbal signals are included to support optimal provider-client interaction. Facts about TB in country with details on stigma, traditional remedies, and beliefs, will aid providers in better understanding patient expectations regarding treatment. From the SE National Center for Tuberculosis (SNTC) Available for: Afghanistan, China, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico and Ukraine.

THE LONG TAIL OF AFGHAN RELOCATION AND RESETTLEMENT: Achievements, Obstacles, and Opportunities

4/22 REPORT TO THE OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME UNIFIED COORDINATION GROUP – Short-sightedness in identifying preferred relocation and resettlement solutions has come at the expense of devising sustainable, long-term strategies. Every step of the
way, Afghans in the US have been met by agencies trying to address their needs while dealing with staffing and funding shortfalls and already full case loads. In addition to strains on the resettlement program, the crisis has also put an enormous strain on legal service providers, who are necessary to implement long-term strategies.

Biden signs bill to create commission studying AAPI museum

6/13/22 President Joe Biden on Monday signed “H.R. 3525″or the “Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act” into law, telling those assembled at the East Room of the White House that generations of AAPI individuals “have literally shaped the history and the contours of this country.”Âť

2021 Report on International Religious Freedom

6/2/22 The annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom”the International Religious Freedom Report”describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report covers government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. The U.S. Department of State submits the reports in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

Esperanza United Language access plan template

This Language access template is designed to help your program create or enhance your language access plan. The template includes sample language that is relevant for working with survivors with limited English proficiency. The template is offered as a PDF document that is editable with Adobe Acrobat, and options for sample language that you can adapt to fit your organizational and community realities.

Maya Interpreters

INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION AGENCY
Our interpretation agency is here to help you. Request an interpreter for legal, medical, social, immigration, court and business purposes. Multi-language: Maya Key Words: Indigenous, Language Access

287(g) Program Overview

7/21 Section 287(g) of the INA allows the DHS to enter into formal written agreements (Memoranda of Agreement or MOAs) with state or local law enforcement agencies and deputize selected state and local law enforcement officers to perform certain functions of federal immigration agents. The MOAs are negotiated between DHS and the local authorities and include delegation of authority to a limited number of state and local officers. All of this must be done under the supervision of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Deputized officers are required to abide by federal civil rights laws and regulations. In general, deputized officers are authorized to:
287(g) End-of-Year
Report

Mixteco Indigenous Language Services

Since launching in 2010, the Indigenous Language Services program has seen an immense increase in the need for indigenous interpreters and we are now serving clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We continue our collaboration at large with school districts, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services agencies. We are actively contracting with regional agencies at a statewide and national level. Key Words: Language Access Multi-language: Mixteco

Just Serve

JustServe.org is a website where the volunteer needs of organizations may be posted and volunteers may search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community.
JustServe is a service to help link community volunteer needs with volunteers and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in posting projects or in encouraging volunteers to serve according to our guidelines. Sponsored by the LDS Church

United Effort Organization

We assist clients apply for public assistance programs. We find resources for our clients to help them achieve their goals towards self-sufficiency. We match our clients with mentors who work with clients to develop career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support, and role modeling.

HOUSES OF WORSHIP SECURITY SELF-ASSESSMENT

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has developed a baseline security self-assessment that is designed for a person, with little to no security experience, to complete a security assessment.
Houses of Worship (HOW) security self-assessment USER GUIDE | Houses of Worship
Security Self-Assessment | The assessment, when completed, will provide an easy to follow road map for implementing suggested voluntary options for consideration
|

Vibes & Smiles

Our ultimate mission is to bring back the roots of love, kindness, and positivity in all communities by being of service to others. We are dedicated to cultivating & fostering growth of positivity through community actions. From music, families, the homeless, education, sports organizations, underserved neighborhoods, and many more communities, we are always looking to collaborate in ways that create change and make a positive impact. Vibes & Smiles works with businesses, i.e. nonprofits, small businesses, restaurants, schools, etc., and holds events to motivate and inspire others to participate in making a positive impact wherever they can. In this day in age, willingness to help others is often overlooked, but is much needed. Good people bring out the good in people. Join us as we make a difference. Pay it forward!

2022 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad completed May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a monthlong celebration that is now known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

SCC Section 8 Interest List

Santa Clara County Housing Authority (SCCHA) would like to remind you to update your information or refresh your application in the Interest List for the Section 8 program. Or, if you haven’t signed up yet, the Interest List is always open and taking applications!
The Section 8 Program is a federally funded rental assistance program that helps eligible low-income individuals and families pay for rental housing. Interested households may register to be considered for two types of rental assistance, either a Housing Choice Voucher or a Property Voucher. Multi-;language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |

San Jose African America Community Services Agency

The AACSA Meaningful Life Initiative (AMLI) will ensure the remaining scattered population of African and African American descent is provided the village it needs to thrive, find meaningful purpose in their lives and continue to contribute to the diverse entrepreneurship, ingenuity and economic success of Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County. The Information Referral Center program provides a web portal in which organizations, churches and other non-profit organizations can post a profile advertising services and activities that are value-added services to the community. The community is able to access the portal to search for organizations that provides a service they are seeking. Key Words: SCC

UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center

Helping Undocumented Students Thrive at SJSU
The UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center provides for undocumented students”and connects them with supporters throughout the SJSU community.
The UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center (USRC) provides direct services such as financial aid resources and legal support to students who are undocumented and to those from mix-status families. Our goal is to ensure that students, regardless of their immigration status, have access to reliable information, equitable resources, and opportunities that support their academic and personal success.

COVID-19 RECOVERY TASK FORCE

9/21 In September 2021, the San JosĂ© City Council approved 55 organizations to the COVID-19 Recovery Task Force, an important part of the City’s Community and Economic Recovery strategy.
This Task Force, which will be convened for no more than a year, will be an opportunity for the City to engage with and learn from the people and communities who have been most impacted by the pandemic. Recovery is not for the City to do alone, rather this work must be done with the whole community, for the benefit of those most burdened by the crisis, guided by their wisdom, tapping into their potential, and building on their deep enduring strength.

San Jose Bridge Communities (SJBC)

SJBC is a grass roots organization with the philosophy of service that facilitates opportunities to form cross cultural and cross class friendships. Programs include: Parenting Classes, Language Exchange Classes, Food Distribution, Tutoring, Getting Ahead Class, Hands and Voices (focus on equipping students with the tools to express themselves through painting, drawing, Film, photography and more), Arte y cafe (an art class design for destressing and self care) . Multi-language: Spanish

JAPANTOWN PREPARED!

Japantown Prepared is an all-volunteer CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) group. It formed in 2011 after the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami disaster. Our mission is to prepare San Jose Japantown for any major disasters. The businesses, organizations, churches, and residents of Japantown work together to help each other out. We train, communicate, and collaborate to prepare for disasters of all kinds. We serve our community to minimize loss of life, injuries, and property damage.

Immigration reform could prevent food prices from harming consumers

6/3/22 Our national security is tied to our ability to feed ourselves. As former officials who served in the Bush administration, we see an urgent need to address the labor shortage in the agricultural industry by fixing our immigration system. That would allow farmworkers to contribute to the economy free from uncertainty and fear and keep food on the tables of America’s families at lower costs.

IAN Non-profit Resource Center (Immigrant Advocate Network)

The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN), a program of Pro Bono Net, is dedicated to expanding access to immigration legal resources and information through collaboration and technology. IAN was created in 2007 by leading immigrants’ rights organizations, to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them. We create our own tools, build platforms for others, and work with partners to harness the power of technology and collective action to better support immigrants and their advocates.

Adult Refugee Services Unit (ARSU) newsletter #7,

April 14, 2022 The ARSU NEWSLETTER shares pertinent information relevant to the needs of Refugees and Non-citizen Crime Survivors and includes resources and updates for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA), Refugee Social Services (RSS), Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP), and the California Repatriation Program. Published by the CA Dept of Social Services (CA DSS).

Adult Refugee Services Unit (ARSU) newsletter #7

April 14, 2022 The ARSU NEWSLETTER shares pertinent information relevant to the needs of Refugees and Non-citizen Crime Survivors and includes
resources and updates for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA), Refugee Social Services (RSS), Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance
Program (TCVAP), and the California Repatriation Program. Published by the CA DSS.

Addressing Learning Loss in Disadvantaged Kids

4/8/22 Students with disabilities, those learning English and students who live in rural communities learn at the same rate during the academic year – and often faster – than their peers who are not disadvantaged, but they lose much more ground over the summer, according to new research from the nonprofit education policy and assessment organization NWEA.

The finding bolsters calls by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona for state education officials and school leaders to offer intensive summer learning programs for students who have incurred the steepest academic losses due to chronic interruptions to learning during the pandemic.

26 Steps to Preparedness Workbook

This workbook from Campbell CERT shows you how to build an emergency preparedness food, water and supply kit over the course of several weeks or months at a pace that fits into your already busy life. We’ve created this tool drawing from the guidelines of several authoritative agencies (FEMA, Ready.gov, Red Cross, and Santa Clara County Fire). Our Food & Water Calculator is designed to give you an idea of your food and water needs for the number of people in your household.
For more information, contact 26steps@campbellcert.org.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW WHEN ENROLLING MY CHILDREN IN PUBLIC BENEFITS?

3/21 Programs like Medicaid, CHIP, ACA Marketplace Coverage, School Breakfast & Lunch, WIC and SNAP (“food stamps”) help your children lead healthier lives. You may have questions about whether your child’s use of these health and nutrition programs will affect your
immigration status or your application for a green card. This document provides answers to frequently asked questions to help you make good decisions for your family. Key Words: Public Charge

COVID-19 Funding Stalls Over Immigration Dispute as Virus Cases Tick Up

4/8/22 For weeks, the White House has pressed Congress to pass new funding in order to keep up the federal government’s testing capabilities and purchasing power of therapeutics and vaccines. Senate negotiators struck a bipartisan agreement on Monday to replenish those funds. But a day later, the GOP blocked a procedural vote over an immigration-related public health order.

Board Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis

6/23/21 Our County’s Division of Equity and Social Justice was created to address social inequities that exist within County services including racial and ethnic disparities. The coronavirus outbreak laid bare the disproportionate number of people of color getting COVID-19 in our County, including our Latino population countywide and our Latino, African American and Asian American communities in East San Jose.
Other communities across the Country have declared racism a public health crisis including the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Madison County, Cook County, the City of Pittsburgh, the City of Boston, Kansas City and the State of Arizona.

California Hard-to-Count Index Interactive Map

Many California residents live in areas that, based on demographic, socioeconomic and housing characteristics, may be hard to count in the 2020 Census. This interactive map* shows California census tracts and block groups shaded by their California Hard-to-Count Index, a metric that incorporates 14 variables correlated with an area being difficult to enumerate. Census tracts and block groups with higher CA-HTC indexes likely will pose significant challenges to numerate in 2020, while tracts and block groups with lower indexes should be easier to count.

Types of Student Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge

The terms forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge mean nearly the same thing, but they’re used in different ways. If you’re no longer required to make payments on your loans due to your job, this is generally called forgiveness or cancellation. If you’re no longer required to make payments on your loans due to other circumstances, such as a total and permanent disability or the closure of the school where you received your loans, this is generally called discharge.

Understanding the Impact of Extreme Heat Events

3/28/22 The Los Angeles Times recently published an article detailing the impact of heat-related deaths in California and found that extreme heat caused approximately 3,900 deaths in California over the past decade”that is six times more than the state’s official count. Even so, extreme heat receives substantially less awareness than other disasters, despite killing more Americans each year than wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.

County creates New Office to Address Systemic Inequities that Negatively Impact Historically Marginalized Communities

1/10/22 The new Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer will collaborate and partner with County departments to integrate values of diversity, equity, and belonging into their operations and to build organizational capacity to address systemic inequities that contribute to poor outcomes for historically marginalized communities. Dr. Analilia GarcĂ­a, who is trained in public health and has built a career championing social justice, started today as Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, and will lead the newly created Office of Equity, Diversity and Belonging.

Extreme heat is one of the deadliest consequences of climate change.

10/7/21 Between 2010 and 2019, the hottest decade on record, California’s official data from death certificates attributed 599 deaths to heat exposure.
But a Times analysis found that the true toll is probably six times higher. An examination of mortality data from this period shows that thousands more people died on extremely hot days than would have been typical during milder weather. All told, the analysis estimates that extreme heat caused about 3,900 deaths.

Path to Permanent Residency for TPS Beneficiaries Restored

On March 21, 2022 USCIS agreed to restore a path to permanent residency for Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries. Because of this settlement, TPS beneficiaries impacted by then-Acting Director Cuccinelli’s policy will be able to reopen and dismiss their removal orders and apply to adjust their status to become permanent residents”eliminating the threat of deportation if their TPS protections are revoked in the future.
Multi-language: Spanish

Trauma-informed instruction for immigrant students

More and more educators across the country are learning about the impacts of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on students. Researchers estimate that half of the U.S. student population has experienced or is still experiencing some type of trauma, violence, or chronic stress
For immigrant students, the sources of trauma may be complex and may be related to:
***the reasons the family left their home country (such as war or wide-spread violence)
***difficult conditions, violence, sexual assault, or casualties during the journey to this country
***forced separation from a parent or sibling on the journey
***Experiences related to immigration enforcement
trauma and anxiety can impact students’ behavior and the importance of getting a complete picture of the source of the issue before taking steps that can have long-term consequences for the student.

San Jose council ends COVID mask mandate

4/5/22 The city’s masking guidelines now align with the county and state, which lifted mask mandates earlier this year in almost all public indoor settings. The City Council unanimously approved ending local restrictions Tuesday with no discussion.
Residents, regardless of vaccination status, are no longer required to wear a mask except in certain high-risk settings such as hospitals, jails, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities and on public transit.