Archives: Resources

Technology Guide for People with Disabilities

Various organizations work to help people with disabilities to overcome social, physical, attitudinal or other difficulties and avoid exclusion from many areas of life. Many employers nowadays offer opportunities for them to earn decent money. And there are multiple resources, software programs, and technological devices to help young people with different disabilities to obtain a proper education and subsequent benefits. Key Words: AFN
Fee Based

Coronavirus Information in Indigenous Languages, Dialects, and Spanish

These resources were gathered by the Rural Women’s Health Project, with thanks to Evelyn Moraga in Guatemala, Dr. Laura Gonzalez at the University of Florida, her colleagues at CEPIADET in Oaxaca Mexico and CIELO in Los Angeles.
Posters, Fact Sheets, audio and video materials in numerous indigenous languages. We are committed to getting these materials out to all of those residing in the U.S., no matter their country of origin or mother language. If you have materials to be added to this list, please contact us at: rwhp@cafl.com. Multi-language

Open Road Alliance COVID-19 Grants and Loans for Non-Profits

OPEN ROAD ALLIANCE RESPONSE TO COVID-19:
Charitable Grants – Charitable Grants will only be offered to organizations responding directly to COVID-19.
Loans – Open Road will be offering four loan products to organizations affected by COVID-19:
1. Lost Event Revenue
2. Accelerating Incoming Emergency Funds
3. Co-investment to Support Social Enterprises
4. Deep Impact Loans

Respond Crisis Translators Network

Amidst the pandemic, our volunteers are mobilizing around the clock to translate in hospitals, detention centers, and anywhere else where language support is needed. If you need help, please let us know and we will be touch ASAP.
We are a network of volunteer translators providing compassionate, effective, and trauma-informed interpretation and translation services for migrants, refugees, anyone experiencing language barriers, Key Word: COVID-19
Multi-language: Spanish |
French |
Kreyòl Ayisyen |
Dari |
Russian |
Ukrainian |
Pashto |
Key Words: SCC Language Access, interprete

Operation Access (OA)

With support from the community, we bring together medical professionals and hospitals to provide donated outpatient surgical and specialty care for the uninsured and underserved. OA enables Bay Area health care providers to donate vital surgical and specialty care to people in need.
Do you work at a community clinic? We provide a referral pathway for community clinic patients who need specialty medical services many clinics cannot provide. Our volunteers donate their time to help your patients.
Refer a Patient.
Multi-language:
Spanish |
Chinese
Key Words: COVID-19, Undocumented

CDC Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs Before and During an Outbreak

1/6/22 The CDC has published Resources for K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs to support planning, preparation, and response to COVID-19. Includes Checklists, Protocols for Cleaning, Supplemental Guidance For Child Care Programs That Remain Open, Facts about COVID-19 for discussions with children
Multi-language: Spanish

San Jose legislator pushes to protect farmworkers during COVID-19 crisis

4/2/20 The question of who qualifies as an “essential worker” during the coronavirus crisis is no longer limited to health care workers and first responders ” it now includes grocery store clerks, restaurant employees and truck drivers. Local legislators are now pushing to add farmworkers to that list, as they’re filling produce trucks and grocery store shelves.
San Jose Assemblymember Ash Kalra this week called for Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand protections for the roughly 500,000 to 800,000 farmworkers across California, including the ability to stay home and take care of their families amid the COVID-19 outbreak without worrying about the resulting financial strain.

OnwardCA

OnwardCA is an initiative of companies, foundations, and humans to get California workers displaced by COVID-19 essential life services and back to work as quickly as possible. Help you get money or groceries or child care; help you upskill, reskill, or refresh; and help you land a great new job.

Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19

Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most schools, places of public gathering, and nonessential businesses are closed, and parents and other caregivers are faced with helping their families adjust to the new normal. This includes trying to keep children occupied, feeling safe, and attempting to keep up with schoolwork as best as possible. None of this easy, but it helps to stay focused on what is possible in order to reinforce a sense of control and to reassure children that they are okay, and that the situation will get better. Multi-language:
Spanish |
Amharic |
Chinese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
French |
Urdu |

Bahasa |
Key Words: Mental Health

Women’s Magazine -ASIAN AMERICAN FEMINIST ANTIBODIES{care in the time of coronavirus}

With the COVID-19 pandemic neither behind us or solely ahead of us, this zine offers a way to make meaning of the coronavirus crisis through long-standing practices of care that come out of Asian American histories and politics. We bring together first-hand accounts and analyses from our communities, including health and service workers and caregivers on the frontlines, students, people living with chronic illness, journalists, and organizers. Together, this collection of stories, essays, and artwork shows how we experience, resist, and grapple with a viral outbreak that has been racialized as Asian, is spoken of in the language of contagion and invasion, and reveals the places where our collective social safety net is particularly threadbare. Key Words: Ethnic Media, collaborative

CA EDD (Employment Development Dept)

California is responding to the spread of a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (COVID-19). While investigations to learn more about the virus are ongoing, workers and employers should review their health and safety procedures to help prevent exposure to the virus.
The EDD provides a variety of support services to people who have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced due to the impacts of COVID-19. Key Words: Business, Unemployment,

Newsom bans water shutoffs for customers with overdue bills

4/2/20 Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued an executive order that prohibits all public water agencies from disconnecting service to residences during the coronavirus pandemic. The order also does not absolve customers from bills they owe. They still are responsible for payment, but cannot be disconnected if payments are late or missed.
The order remains in effect indefinitely. It applies to residential service and to businesses that have been deemed essential by the state public health officer, such as grocery stores, health clinics, carry out restaurants and others.
It also requires water systems to restore service to residences that were shut off for non-payment after the March 4, 2020, statewide emergency coronavirus proclamation. Key Words: Finance, COVID-19

Housing Industry Foundation Emergency Assistance

12/27//20 HIF Update:
Community members threatened by homelessness and interested in applying for an emergency grant, will be required to demonstrate need and ability to utilize our emergency housing grants for sustained stability up to $2,500. Apply to network partner organization for your zip code. An unstable housing situation can arise from any number of unexpected circumstances, such as medical bills, job loss, or Covid-19 related circumstances.
Key Words: pandemic

Friends of Hue Foundation

FHF provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and disaster preparedness education in the Bay Area. We have a trained Bi-lingual Vietnamese speaking emergency response team to help with natural disaster. Volunteers provide food and supplies and helped with filing claims for the victims.
PLEASE CALL FHF at 844-510-4156 IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ASSISTANCE.
We will do our best to support you during this difficult time. Multi-language: Vietnamese

Farmworkers, Mostly Undocumented, Become ‘Essential’ During Pandemic

4/2/20 Immigrant field workers have been told to keep working despite stay-at-home directives, and given letters attesting to their “critical” role in feeding the country.
It is an open secret that the vast majority of people who harvest America’s food are undocumented immigrants, mainly from Mexico, many of them decades-long residents of the United States. Often the parents of American-born children, they have lived for years with the cloud of deportation hanging over their households. Key Words: ICE, COVID-19, Coronavirus

UNDOCUMENTED workers among those hit first – and worst – by the coronavirus shutdown

4/4/20 Many of the undocumented, working in construction, restaurants and other service sectors, have already lost their jobs. Others, in industries like agriculture and health care that have been declared essential, work in jobs that typically require close quarters or interacting with the public, putting them at higher risk of getting sick.

As payments on federal student loans resume, federal student loan borrowers may be eligible for cancellation or lower payments

9/8/23 In October, millions of federal student loan borrowers will have a payment due on their loans for the first time since March 2020. Many borrowers may be able to reduce their payments or even get their loans cancelled, and they should explore their options before making payments. Borrowers who encounter issues with their student loans should submit a complaint with the CFPB.  If you’re starting your student loan repayment in October, here’s what you need to know and what to do if you run into issues with your student loan servicers.  Spanish

Crisis Text HOTLINE

Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the USA to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor. Every texter is connected with a a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem solving. All of Crisis Text Line’s Crisis Counselors are volunteers, donating their time to helping people in crisis. Multi-language: Spanish
Key Words: Mental Health, Stress, Anxiety, coronavirus, COVID-19,

Executive Order on CA State Prisons and Juvenile Facilities in Response to the Outbreak

3/24/20 To reduce the risks of the Coronavirus in correctional settings, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary to temporarily halt the intake and/or transfer of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities. The Order also directs videoconferencing of all scheduled parole suitability hearings starting next month. Key Words: COVID-19

COVID-19 Screening Tool

3/27/20 If you think that you or a family member have been exposed, this free Apple App can help you understand what to do next about COVID-19.
Let’s all look out for each other by knowing our status, trying not to infect others, and reserving care for those in need. Key Words: CDC. pandemic, disaster, health care

A doctor clearly explains how to disinfect your groceries and take out – Video

3/27/20 With the coronavirus spreading rapidly, even something as simple as bringing a canned good into your home with the virus could end up setting your family back. You don’t know who handled that item before you or whether they have COVID-19, therefore we must take extraordinary measures to protect ourselves. Key Words: coronavirus, health, COVID-19

Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus

To protect workers and prevent exposure to the virus, employers must develop and maintain the required programs and plans for their facility or operation. Cal/OSHA recommends the interim guidance, educational materials and model programs and plans below be reviewed with an employer’s existing procedures to ensure that workers are protected. Key Words: pandemic, disaster Key Words: COVID-19, employment
Spanish

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA)

HBA, also known as “The Bridge” is a coalition of Haitian non-profit organizations and community activists who have come together to serve the Haitian community in California and beyond. Our goal is to work to develop a self-sufficient community of Haitian immigrants. Our vision is not myopic but rather broad enough to believe in a Haitian community in California that is strong at its foundation so that it doesn’t crumble when crisis hits. We’re at (619) 804-9262 in San Diego Multilanguage: Creole

SCC Homelessness Prevention System

The HPS program provides temporary financial assistance (e.g. rent, deposit, or utilities payment) to low-income families or individuals who are struggling to maintain their housing. HPS is available to low-income (80% of Area Median Income) households in Santa Clara County who are at imminent risk of losing their housing. Call: (408) 926-8885 Email: housinginfo@sacredheartcs.org
Multi-language: Spanish
Vietnamese

How To Cope With Sheltering in Place

Sheltering in place means people are asked by
local officials to stay where they are for a period
of time.
This tip sheet from SAMHSA describes reactions often associated with sheltering in place. It also suggests ways to care for yourself and your family during the experience and provides additional resources you may find helpful. Key Words:: Mental Health, COVID-19

Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (SAMHSA)

When you hear, read, or watch news about an outbreak of an infectious disease such as Ebola, you may feel anxious and show signs of stress”even when the outbreak affects people far from where you live and you are at low or no risk of getting sick. These signs of stress are normal, and may be more likely or pronounced in people with loved ones in parts of the world affected by the outbreak. In the
wake of an infectious disease outbreak, monitor your own physical and mental health. Know the signs of stress in yourself and your loved ones. Know how to relieve stress, and know when to get help. Key Words: Mental Health, SAMHSA, COVID-19, Coronavirus

Alcoholics Anonymous US and International Meeting Guide Finder App

Brought to you by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., Meeting Guide is a free of charge meeting finder app for iOS and Android that provides meeting information from A.A. service entities in an easy-to-access format.
Meeting Guide syncs with US and international General Service Office websites relaying meeting information for over 100,000 weekly meetings are currently listed, and the information is refreshed twice daily.
Key Words: Mental Health, Addiction, Recovery, COVID-19
Spanish |
French

Indian Health Center

2/13/21 COVID-19 Update: In-office visits are being kept to a minimum but most services can now be accessed via telehealth (you could have a Medical, Dental or Counseling appointment by phone, tablet, or computer). The WIC program continues as usual.
Coronavirus vaccine clinics for registered clinic patients, based on the availability of the vaccine.
Call (408) 445-3400. Multi-language: Spanish, Vietnamese
Key Words: Coronavirus, Healthcare, COVID-19

Farmworkers deserve workplace protections too – Ash Kalra

3/31/20 Today we celebrate the birthday of the visionary labor leader and community activist, Cesar Chavez. His contribution to the fight for economic and social justice for California’s farmworkers underscores the fact that we still have much to accomplish to ensure fair and safe working conditions for these workers. As our state addresses the overwhelming task of combating the coronavirus, we must mitigate the impacts on workers, and in particular, our most vulnerable ones. We need to dedicate resources to protect the health of California’s farmworkers.
When a farmworker is diagnosed with the coronavirus, other farmworkers who were exposed to that worker should be paid to take the number of sick days recommended to self-quarantine. The $9.5 billion farmers are receiving in federal emergency assistance makes this possible.

SCC Public Health Dept COVID-19 Data Dashboard

We are committed to providing accurate, reliable reports to the public. Additional data will be added over time. The information presented here is updated daily and is dependent on reporting by numerous agencies across the County and outside partners. Info on number of cases by cities and zip codes, hospitals and nursing homes, and demographics Multi=language:
Spanish
Vieetnamese
Chinese
Tagalog

CA Senior Hotline

CA has launched a hotline to deliver services and help for older Californians. CALL: 1-833-544-2374. Social isolation is real. During these trying times it’s important to check in with our loved ones. Stay Home. Save Lives. Check In Key Words: COVID-19

Virtual Wellness Gatherings for Undocumented

Immigrants Rising’s Virtual Wellness Gatherings help undocumented young people stay grounded and connected to one another.
Led by Liliana Campos, Immigrants Rising’s Mental Health Advocate, these virtual gatherings convene experienced facilitators”psychologists, coaches, traditional healers”to guide undocumented young people through educational materials and interactive activities.
Also TANGIBLE SUPPORT TO HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD including national listing of free clinics. Key Words: COVID-19

Healthcare access for Undocumented Folks in the Time of COVID19

If you feel sick, with symptoms of fever and dry cough, do not be afraid to seek medical assistance and call a doctor first. CDC Guide in Spanish Spanish. Although undocumented people are usually not eligible for health insurance, even through ACA, we can still receive health care through free/low-cost clinics that serve the uninsured. Undocumented people are welcome and will not be turned away from free/low-cost clinics. Multi-language. Key Words:

Freedom 100 Fund

TheFreedom100 Fund, Offered by Mission Driven Finance, this $1 million pilot fund operated in partnership with Freedom for Immigrants will leverage direct and charitable investments to post bond for 100 immigrants who are in “mandatory immigration detention.” Freedom for Immigrants will provide each person bonded out with case management support, including housing, connections to attorneys, transportation, and mental health services to ensure they have the best chance of winning their case. Key Words: Legal

Public Charge and COVID-19 Clarification

9/20 On Sept. 11, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision that allows DHS to resume implementing the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule nationwide,
The Public Charge rule does not restrict access to testing, screening, or treatment of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. or access to vaccines to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases. Multi-language: Spanish

Free Summer Meals for ALL Children & Youth 18 and Under

6/26/22 Free meals are available to ALL kids ages 18 and under this summer, with no registration required! Second Harvest of Silicon Valley has launched a site locator on its website. Families can enter their locations using their address, city, or zip code. Icons pop up on a map where summer meal sites are located and when users click on the icon, they see all the information needed, including location details, mealtimes and contact information.
School meal programs are not subject to Public Charge.
Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |
Farsi |
Russian |
Arabic |
French |
Italian |
German |
Dutch |
Key Words: School

2019 TRUTH Act Forum

Questions Posed and County responses at the TRUTH Act Community Forum held on 12/10/19.
The Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR), Division of Equity and Social Justice (DESJ), facilitated and coordinated the TRUTH Act forum, for the purpose of providing information to the community and consider public comment regarding SCC law enforcement agencies’ provision of access or information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during 2018.
OIR held the forum in collaboration with the Forum for Immigrant Rights & Empowerment (FIRE) Coalition of SCC, which is composed of the following: Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN), Silicon Valley De-Bug, Asian Law Alliance, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Pangea Legal Services, People Acting in Community Together (PACT), Sacred Heart Community Service Agency, Stanford Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, and YMCA Silicon Valley. Key Words: Deport, RRN

NILC FAQ: Eligibility for Assistance Based on Immigration Status

5/27/21 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has passed several emergency measures that provide
assistance to struggling individuals and families. This table provides information about immigrants’ eligibility for these programs in addition to potential implications for public charge determinations.
(USCIS recently posted an alert clarifying that it will not consider testing, treatment, or preventive care related to COVID-19 in a public charge inadmissibility determination. Key Words: Pandemic

Coronavirus Information and Resources for Immigrant Communities in the Central Valley

3/19/20 California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) and the Sacramento Family Unity, Education, and Legal (FUEL) Network for Immigrants are committed to supporting and serving immigrants during the 2019-2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We have compiled here critical information and resources to help immigrant communities navigate this challenging time. Key Words: Pandemic, Health, Insurance,

Financial Assistance for Low-Income SCC Residents

10/1/20 Update Thanks to funding from the County of Santa Clara, City of San José, and a network of private partners, the Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System has additional rental and financial assistance available for at-risk residents who’ve been financially-impacted by COVID-19
See specific eligibility criteria and more detailed program information – including instructions for how eligible households can add their name to our Interest List.
. Multi-language:
Spanish
Vietnamese
Key Words: Coronavirus, Pandemic, COVID-19

SVCF Regional Nonprofit Emergency Fund Temporarily on Hold

1/21 Update SVCF is seeking contributions to the Regional Nonprofit Emergency Fund, which has been supported by a range of individual and family donors, corporations and other foundations. Until further funding becomes available via contributions, our Nonprofit Emergency Fund has temporarily stopped accepting applications from nonprofits in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
SVCF will also provide operating grants for other nonprofits that have experienced unexpected costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic as described below.Area region. The fund will be used to provide flexible operating support grants to nonprofit organizations serving one or more of the 10 counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma). Key Words: Silicon Valley Community Foundation, coronavirus, pandemic

You have Rights to Protect Your Health – Going to the Doctor

2/20 You can still get health care without insurance. This includes emergency room care, community health centers, migrant health centers, free clinics, and public hospitals. You have options.Doctors and nurses care about your health, not your immigration status. Patients can seek care with confidence that their personal information is private. Immigration agencies also have a policy of avoiding enforcement actions in health care facilities like hospitals, health clinics, urgent care and doctors’ offices. Key Words: #Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF), KYR, Know Your Rights, Public Charge

Letter to Department of Homeland Security Urges End to Migrant Protection Protocols

3/6/20 153 legal representation, refugee assistance, faith-based, human rights, and community groups”including the American Immigration Council”sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding an end to the “Migrant Protection Protocols.” The letter urges the government to allow asylum seekers to pursue refugee protection from safety in the United States as required by U.S. law and treaties. Key Words: Immigration, MPP

CDC Instructions for Cleaning and Disinfecting

Interim Recommendations for US Households with Suspected/Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 –
Based on what is currently known about the novel coronavirus and similar coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS, spread from person-to-person with these viruses happens most frequently among close contacts (within about 6 feet). This type of transmission occurs via respiratory droplets.
Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings. Key Words: Health, Pandemic

EPA List of Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19 Virus

This list includes products with emerging viral pathogen claims and those with human coronavirus claims. If a product with an emerging viral pathogen claim is not available, use a product with a coronavirus claim. If the product is listed as “N” under the Emerging Viral Pathogen Claim column, then it has a human coronavirus claim. Check the EPA number on any product to see if it is on this list. There may be other effective cleaning products that are not on this list, but if it is here, you can be sure. Key Words: Health, Pandemic, Flu, COVID-19

CA Dept of Public Health Guidance Documents: Coronavirus Disease

2/9/21 A list of various guidance documents from the CDPH covering:
**Adult and Senior Care Facilities (PDF)
**Community care facilities, including assisted living facilities and child care
**COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for People at Risk for Serious Illness (PDF)
**Drinking Water, Recreational Water and Wastewater: What You Need to Know
**Employers, health care workers and workers in general industry
**Entertainment Venue (PDF)
**First responders, including paramedics and EMTs (PDF)
**Food Industry (PDF)
**Gathering Guidance (PDF)
**Guidance for Homeless Assistance Providers on **Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF)
**Guidance for Individuals with Access and Functional Needs (PDF)
**Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
**Guidance to Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans: **COVID-19 Screening and Testing (PDF)
**Health care facilities from Cal/OSHA
**Health care facilities, including long-term care facilities
**Health care plans
**Department of Managed Health Care All Plan Letter (PDF)
**California Department of Insurance Bulletin (PDF)
**Coverage Options Fact Sheet (PDF)
**Home cleaning with COVID-19 positive individuals (PDF)
**Guidance for Using Disinfectants at Schools and Child Cares (PDF)
**Recordatorios para el uso de desinfectantes en las escuelas y guarderías (PDF)
**Laboratories (PDF)
**Schools and institutions of higher education
Key Words: Pandemic

HMONG Resource Safety Posters

In partnership with Hmong Youth and Parents United (HYPU) and the Sierra Health Foundation, HIP is providing the following resources for download to support the Hmong community during these uncertain times. We urge all of our community members to follow the direction of public health officials and take the necessary precautions in protecting themselves and their families. Additionally, we are urging all families to strongly consider participating in “social distancing” as a means of preventing the spread of the virus and protecting those are that most vulnerable to illness. Multi-language: Hmong
Key Words: Coronavirus, pandemic, flu, COVID-19

CA Department of Health Multi-language COVID-19 Updates and Guidance

Coronavirus updates, alerts, statistics, tips and guidance from the CA Dept of Public Health . Multi-language links to: Spanish
Arabic, Amharic, Cambodian, Chinese (Simplified), Farsi (Persian), Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telegu, Tigrinya, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Key Words: pandemic flu, COVID-19, GOVERNMENT

COVIBOOK Multi-language Children’s Book

Manuela Molina created this short book to support and reassure children under the age of 7, regarding the COVID-19. This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. This resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy. Print this material so children can draw on it. Emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times. Share COVIBOOK and help ease kiddo’s anxiety all over the world. Multi-language: English, Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonedian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish Key Words: Pandemic flu, mental health, disaster

CA detainees face long periods of confinement and barriers to medical treatment, state audit reveals

2/28/19 Reporting from Sacramento ” Lengthy stays in cells. A lack of access to doctors, counselors and legal aid. Few bilingual staffers who can explain rules or services. Limited opportunities to call or see friends and family.
On Tuesday, Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra released findings from the first state inspection of California’s immigrant detention centers, designed to provide a deeper look into the conditions inside the system as the Trump administration takes a more aggressive approach to confining people who are in the country illegally. California is one of the first states to examine everyday operations at the facilities.

Apply Online for a California College Promise Grant

For eligible California residents, the California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver) permits enrollment fees to be waived. (Assistance for the purchase of books and supplies must be applied for separately.)
Many CA Community Colleges offer online California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver) applications through CCCApply. Key Words: Education, Scholarship, Financial Aid

What Are the Proposed New Bars to Asylum?

1/8/20 In yet another move to gut asylum protections in the United States, the Trump administration proposed a rule last month that would add severe new restrictions on asylum access. The restrictions would apply to people convicted of”and in some cases, merely accused of”a wide range of criminal offenses.
If enacted, the rule would create seven new categories of criminal convictions or alleged conduct that would make someone ineligible for asylum. It would also limit the impact of state court orders vacating criminal convictions or altering sentences and eliminate automatic review of certain asylum denials.

New Data Privacy Rights for California Consumers

1/1/2020 The CA Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into in effect on January 1, 2020.
CCPA grants new rights to CA consumers:
Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared or sold by the business,
Right to delete the consumer’s personal information held by both the business and by extension, the business’s service providers;
Right to opt-out of the sale of the consumer’s personal information. As required by the law, businesses must provide a “Do Not Sell” information link on their websites or mobile apps;
Children under the age of 16 must provide opt-in consent, with a parent or guardian consenting for children under 13; and
Businesses may not discriminate against consumers in terms of price or service when a consumer exercises a privacy right under CCPA.

A Year of Horrors: The Trump Administration’s Illegal Returns of Asylum Seekers to Danger in Mexico

1/20 Under MPP, DHS officers have returned more than 59,000 asylum seekers and migrants to wait in
danger in Mexico. As of December 2019, DHS sent at least 26,000 individuals to Nuevo Laredo and
Matamoros in the notoriously dangerous state of Tamaulipas, which the U.S. State Department
designates as a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” the same threat assessment given to Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and
Syria.

Knowing Your Rights Builds Power

The Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR) cares deeply about all residents, no matter their immigration status.
SCC funds and provides services to all residents regardless of immigration status. You and your family may be eligible for the County’s health services, housing programs, and others.
Every family is different. To make the right choice for your
family, consult with trusted legal service providers. The
OIR can connect you to a variety of agencies that can answer your questions for free or at low cost. Also check the Immigrantinfo.org Events page to find workshops that will resume after the pandemic shut-down, throughout the county. Key Words: KYR, COVID-19

CA extends new protections to immigrants under laws signed by Newsom

10/24/19 The legislation signed by Newsom also expands California’s college student loan program for so-called Dreamers, young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, to include students seeking graduate degrees at the University of CA and CA State University schools. Undergraduate Dreamers already are eligible for those loans and in-state tuition. The new laws take effect Jan. 1.
Amid an escalating feud with the Trump administration and its aggressive plans to deport immigrants, California also adopted a new law forbidding immigration agents from making civil arrests inside state courthouses.
Newsom also extended Medi-Cal coverage to adults in the U.S. illegally through the age of 25.
Key Words: DACA, Deferred Action, ICE, RNN,

Republican and Democratic Officials Continue to Accept Refugees, Rejecting Trump’s Executive Order

1/8/20 As of January 2, a total of 39 governors, 86 mayors, (and other local officials) had expressed their commitment to continue accepting refugees. There has been strong bipartisan support, including from prominent Republican officials.
The pledges of support are a response to an executive order President Trump signed in September 2019. The order requires state and local authorities to provide written consent to resettle refugees within their boundaries.
1/15/20 Update: Federal Judge Peter Messitte issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the Trump administration from enforcing its executive order giving state and local governments the power to opt out of refugee resettlement. Judge Messitte ruled the executive order was likely unlawful. In his decision, he called for the program to “go forward as it developed for the almost 40 years” before the executive order was announced. Key Words: Asylum, Immigrant

Guidance to Assist CA’s Universities and Colleges in Responding to Immigration Issues

10/18 As reported by the Migration Policy Institute, there are currently 197,900 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in California, of whom 20 percent (over 39,000) are enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution. There are 103,000 undocumented immigrants, ages 18-24, who are enrolled in schools (most likely colleges) in California.
Immigration enforcement threats have led to questions about student information held by state community colleges and universities in support of students’ pursuit of their educational goals. California’s community colleges and universities welcome all students and support their
educational rights and opportunities. Key Words: ALLIES5

Fundamentally Inequitable’: Democratic Lawmakers Decry Trump’s Proposal to Hike Immigration Fees

1/3/20 A group of Democratic lawmakers on Monday outlined their opposition to a Trump administration proposal which would increase application and petition fees for immigrants and asylum seekers, calling the plan “fundamentally inequitable and contrary to our nation’s values.”
“We are particularly troubled by DHS’s proposal to transfer roughly $112 million per year in immigration benefits fees to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)” they added.

SAMHSA Mental Health Multi-Language Assistance Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. Key Words: Directory, Multi-language: Spanish, Chinese, |(Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Russian, Arabic, Haitian Creole, French, Polish, Portuguese, Italian,German, Japanese, Farsi, English

Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)

1/1/20 The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF), signed on Dec. 20, 2019, permits eligible Liberians to apply for permanent status until Dec 20, 2020 with form I-485. According to the last census date, there are 75 Liberians residing in Santa Clara County and they have only a one year window to apply.
Contact Nina.K.Sachdev@uscis.dhs.gov. for more information. .Key Words: SCC, Immigration, TPS

MediCal Expansion Covers Young Adults

1/1/2020 Beginning January 1, 2020, a new law in California will give full scope Medi-Cal to young adults under the age of 26 and immigration status does not matter. All other Medi-Cal eligibility rules, including income limits, will still apply. Key Words: Health, undocumented Multi-language: Frequently Asked Questions
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Audit: State Disaster Planning Still Ignores Disabled and Limited English Speaking People

12/23/19 The audit focused on the emergency alert, evacuation and shelter plans in place for the California Office of Emergency Services and Ventura, Sonoma and Butte counties ahead of their respective wildfires in 2017 and 2018.
California emergency officials are continuing to overlook the state’s most vulnerable people, including those with disabilities, as they make preparations for inevitable wildfires, floods and other disasters, according to a state audit released this month.
Residents who don’t speak English have been unable to find information in their language. Individuals who use wheelchairs or rely on electricity to power lifesaving equipment have found themselves unable to move and cut off from the outside world, trapped in part, the audit suggests, by state and county leaders’ inability to think ahead for emergencies. Key Words: AFN

Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California’s Colleges and Universities in Responding to Immigration Issues

10/2018 This advisory to CA Community Colleges provides information regarding recent California “sanctuary” jurisdiction legislation that prohibits state and local agencies from using resources to further certain federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Senate Bill 54 eliminates state and local law enforcement discretion to use money and personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons, or to conduct other activities for immigration enforcement purposes. (Govt. Code, § 7284.6.) The legislation applies expressly to community college police.

Help for Deported Veterans at the Bunker

12/30/19 TIJUANA, Baja California, Mexico – In a neighborhood just south of San Diego stands a narrow, two-story home connected to a tire shop. It’s where U.S. military veterans go after the country they served deports them and there’s nowhere else to turn.
The Bunker offers food, clothing, connection to legal aid, help with Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and even temporary shelter. The center relies on donations to stay afloat, but sometimes Barajas-Varela and Varona have to dip into their own pockets.
Officially known as the Deported Veterans Support House, the Bunker is adorned with U.S. flags. Portraits of deported men and women in uniform line the wall above the staircase. Medals, uniforms, photos and discharge papers form a collage of lives spent in the service of a nation that was never legally theirs.

Why Don’t Immigrants Apply for Citizenship? There Is No Line for Many Unauthorized Immigrants

11/25/19 Many people wonder why all immigrants do not just come to the United States legally or simply apply for citizenship while living here without authorization. These suggestions miss the point: There is no line available for current unauthorized immigrants and the “regular channels” are largely not available to prospective immigrants who end up entering the country through unauthorized channels. Even though most unauthorized immigrants have lived in the United States for nearly 15 years, many could live out the rest of their lives without any opportunity to become legal residents of this country.

Mindfulness May Reduce Stress for Students of Color

10/24/19 We’ve long known that racism and discrimination negatively impact the mental health and well-being of ethnic minorities. A new study shows that a combination of compassion-focused meditation and psychoeducation may help to relieve race-related stress and improve mental health among Asian college students in the US. Key Words: Mental Health, Education,

How law enforcement agencies undermine the U visa

11/7/19 For this story, Reveal sought to examine how U visa certification requests were handled in the 10 states with the largest immigrant populations.
4 of those states – California, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington – have mandates that require law enforcement agencies to sign requests for victims of violent crimes who have been helpful to authorities.
We contacted more than 100 law enforcement agencies in the other 6 states: New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, Florida and Texas. The departments serve the largest immigrant communities within their respective states. We found that nearly 1 of every 4 of these agencies create barriers never envisioned under the U visa program. Key Words: KYR, Know Your Rights

America Learns

A free educational site with Video lessons and 1000s of activities to practice English speaking, listening, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing, grammar and a U.S. Citizenship course. Also available are Apple and Google apps to download. Key Words: ESL,

National Map of Local Entanglement with ICE

11/13/19 The interactive map from ILRC represents the degree to which local policies limit assistance in immigration enforcement, based on FOIA data we received from ICE, as well as our own expertise in local and state laws and policies relating to immigration enforcement. We update the map regularly as the laws shift and grow.
State and local governments across the country have created their own check on federal demands to coopt local law enforcement: sanctuary policies. Sanctuary policies take many forms, but broadly act to limit the participation of local agencies in helping with federal immigration enforcement. This map looks at what those policies do, where they are, and just as importantly, where they aren’t. Jurisdictions that have not enacted sanctuary policies are providing unnecessary, sometimes illegal, assistance to ICE. Key Words: Know Your Rights, KYR

In the Long Run, Diversity Wins

11/20/19 Is religious diversity too politically difficult and socially disruptive, as many argue? Perhaps, the argument goes, the stability and social peace of these countries is maintained by their relative ethnic and religious homogeneity”and that this fragile balance can’t withstand the diversity that the newest wave of migrants is introducing.
But new research published over the summer provides some reason to think that humans may not be as averse to diversity as we think, at least not over time.

Archive – A historic moment’: Santa Clara County unveils landmark Vietnamese service center

10/19/21 SAN JOSE ” Community leaders, military veterans and Santa Clara County elected officials broke ground Saturday for the country’s first healthcare service center designed specifically to serve the Vietnamese American community.
The center, built by the county and expected to open in the fall of 2021, will be a one-stop shop, where residents will be able to access the county’s senior wellness programs and mental health services, get vaccinations, visit a pharmacy and more. Key Words: SCC

Immigration Agencies’ Intrusive Searches of Cell Phones, Laptops Are Ruled Unconstitutional

11/15/19 A federal court ruled this week that sweeping policies permitting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to search personal cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices without reasonable suspicion are unconstitutional.
The policies that the court rejected authorized CBP and ICE officers to search the contents of electronic devices of people arriving at U.S. borders, including U.S. airports, without reasonable suspicion that those devices might have evidence of illegal activity and without a court order. Immigration officers could randomly search the cell phones and laptops of anyone arriving in the United States, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Key Words: Know Your Rights, KYR

HSBC Family Literacy First

HSBC Family Literacy First is a free program created by ABC Life Literacy Canada and supported by HSBC Bank Canada, to bring parents and children together to practice family literacy. Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, and whether you’re engaging in a learning activity in your first or second language, both the parent and child benefit.
Learning should be fun for everyone involved which is why we’ve created stories and activities that are engaging for all ages, literacy levels and life experiences. Multi-language: Arabic, English, French, Chinese, and Tagalog Registration is free and you can access as many stories and activities as you like. Key Words:

Trump Administration Planned to Separate 26,000 Kids with No Ability to Track or Reunify Them

12/2/19 The internal watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security found that the Trump administration anticipated it would separate 26,000 children if the “zero tolerance”? policy of 2018 had been allowed to continue, and that the agency knew it lacked the technology to track and reunite children with their parents. Officials at Customs and Border Protection, the DHS agency responsible for separating families under the May-June 2018 policy, estimated in May of that year that it would separate more than 26,000 children by September”

As Supreme Court decision looms, undocumented Asians say they must speak up or risk losing DACA

11/30/19 Experts say Asian and Pacific Islander recipients of DACA are often overlooked despite there being over 1.7 million undocumented members of this group in the country, according to May Sudhinaraset, assistant professor in community health sciences in the School of Public Health at UCLA. So-called APIs are the fastest-growing immigrant population in the nation, and in California, represent one out of five immigrants without legal papers.
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She said research shows that among Asian and Pacific Islanders, there’s little benefit from being open about one’s undocumented status ” but a high chance of being exploited or looked down on.

Judge Bars DHS From Implementing Unlawful Changes to Fees for Citizenship

12/9/19 Today, Judge Maxine Chesney of the Northern District of California issued a nationwide preliminary injunction barring USCIS from implementing changes that would limit access to citizenship for lawful permanent residents (green card holders). The ruling, issued from the bench, halts changes to the naturalization application process that would present significant barriers to citizenship for tens of thousands of non-wealthy applicants each year. The rule went into effect on December 2.
Judge Chesney ruled that Plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their claim that USCIS failed to properly engage in the notice-and-comment rulemaking required by the Administrative Procedure Act and that the agency’s new rules making it much harder for low-income residents to apply for fee waivers for naturalization and other immigration benefits are invalid as a result. Key Words: Citizenship, ETHICS

US Immigration History Booklet

In 2019, the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR) worked with the CA History Center & Foundation to create a timeline of immigration history in the US.
Immigration history in the U.S. is saturated with movements and practices that expand the definition of democracy and to apply that “all are created equal” to a broader community. On the banner and within this booklet, various forms of community resistance can be seen through the celebration of heritage months, the rise of the United Farm Workers (UFW), marches to defend immigrant rights, the creation of the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network (SCC RRN), and so much more. Key Words:

San Jose earned perfect score for LGBTQ equality, despite some shortcomings

12/13/19 For the fifth year in a row, the Human Rights Campaign gave San Jose a perfect score for equality in services, laws and protection for its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents.
The eighth annual Municipal Equality Index researched 49 criteria for local communities, including hot-button issues such as actions against conversion therapy and single-user gender-neutral bathroom accessibility, both of which San Jose earned points for because of state laws.
Eighty-eight out of 506 cities nationwide earned a perfect score ” the highest number in the index’s history – and the national city average jumped to a record high of 60 points. Neighboring Oakland and San Francisco also earned a perfect score.

The Invisible Wall – Policies that Threaten Immigrant Families

12/6/19 In addition to pushing for a physical border wall, the Trump Administration has rolled out a wide range of regulatory and policy changes to create an “Invisible Wall” affecting the lives of millions in the U.S. Policies include changes that make it harder for immigrants with low- and moderate incomes to navigate the immigration system as well as restrictions in basic needs programs that make it harder for families to thrive and live with dignity. These efforts are part of a government-wide assault designed to send immigrant families one message: you are not welcome in the United States. Key Words:

Rainbow Railroad

Our singular focus is helping LGBTQ people get out to safety. Can you imagine going to jail for who you are or who you love? That is a reality for so many LGBTQI individuals around the world. Since our founding in 2006, Rainbow Railroad has helped more than 500 individuals find a path to safety to start a new life ” free from persecution.
We do not provide legal advice or use illegal methods for people to travel to safety. We are not a political activist organization so we don’t advocate or lobby for changes to laws in Canada or abroad. We connect refugees to local organizations that help with settlement but we don’t support them once they’ve arrived in a safe-country. Offices in Toronto, Canada and New York City. Key Words: International,

Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Economic, social and cultural rights are those human rights relating to the workplace, social security, family life, participation in cultural life, and access to housing, food, water, health care and education. Dispelling the myths specifically surrounding economic, social and cultural rights is crucial to dismantling unworkable categorizations of rights as we move towards a human rights agenda that treats civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights as truly universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. Keu Words: Human Rights, International

NYC preschools are training teachers what to do if immigration authorities come knocking

9/11/19 In this climate of fear, misinformation and rumors can spread in online messages and through word of mouth. But preschool centers are in a unique place to pass along information to families, who may be more likely to trust the advice they get from staff who take care of their children all day.
That’s why the Chinese-American Planning Council, a social services provider that enrolls about 300 children in publicly subsidized preschool programs in New York City, is making sure all of its school staffers are ready with information, and even step-by-step plans in the unlikely event immigration agents come knocking.

Facebook Says It Will Fight Disinformation About the 2020 Census

12/19 The 2020 Census will be the first census to take place in the height of the social media age, and this is why everyone is so worried. The Bureau has launched this site answering frequently asked questions like “do non-citizens get counted?”, and there’s an email hotline set up for reporting falsehoods and rumors about the census: rumors@census.gov.
The government-led population count is a driver for myriad allocations in government programs, for allocation of congressional representation, as well as for private companies’ marketing strategies and a million other aspects of American political and economic life. And since its beginnings, it has inspired distrust in certain corners of the country ” something that the conspiracy-theory-prone are guaranteed to latch onto as census forms and census takers begin fanning out around the country in the first quarter of next year. Key Words: ALLIES8

CA Power Outage and Fire Response Resources

The State of California is providing resources to help Californians impacted by the unique challenges brought on by wildfire and power shutoffs. Information on current wildfires burning in California, Learn about transportation impacts from power shutdowns and wildfires. Air Quality
Find help for health impacts from power shutdowns and wildfire. Resources for vulnerable populations. Resources – Find help from government nonprofits. Help with Shelter, Food, Key Words: Disaster