Archives: Resources

Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC)

To qualify, one must:
***Be a person with a significant disability or impairment, which limits ability to function independently in home, community, environment, or work
***Be able to benefit from services to achieve a greater level of independence; and
***Live or work in Santa Clara County, or a county that does not provide independent living services that SVILC provides.
Complete the Intake process to receive SVILC’s services. Please email info@svilc.org or call (408) 894-9041 to begin this process.
For anyone who relies on electricity for life sustaining equipment, call SVILC at 408-894-9041 or email us at PSPS@svilc.org to get on our Public Safety Power Shutoff contact list,
Multi-language: Spanish, Vietnamese

San Jose legislator Zoe Lofgren pushes for immigration reforms amid COVID-19

9/25/20 Rep. Zoe Lofgren called for immigration reform this week during a congressional hearing examining the role of undocumented immigrants in the essential workforce.
The San Jose Democrat said essential workers, such as those working in agriculture or food processing, have risked their lives by continuing to work in-person throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“Many immigrant essential workers are undocumented and live under the constant threat of removal” she said. “Many others are protected by temporary programs, such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or the Temporary Protected Status, but they too live in fear as a result of the (Trump) administration’s efforts to terminate these programs. They deserve better.”

How California can recover from wildfires without leaving its most vulnerable behind

9/11/20 “While people claim that disasters do not discriminate, there are human decisions that make some populations more vulnerable than others” said Michael Méndez, an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, who co-authored the article. “The big picture is understanding that systemic racism and cultural norms determine who is a worthy disaster victim.”

How California’s farmworkers are banding together to survive the pandemic

9/24/20 A COVID-19 relief package for California’s farmworkers landed on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk last week. Legislators describe the bill as the first of its kind, and it addresses a wide array of issues, from workplace enforcement of COVID-19 guidance to the expansion of rural telehealth services across the state. But, as the novel coronavirus continues to tear through farmworker communities, such measures may not be enough.
Interviews with farmworkers throughout the state reveal a safety net stretched to the limit: Desperate parents are calling relief and advocacy groups for basic needs like diapers for their babies, quarantined farmworkers sick with COVID-19 are relying on colleagues for deliveries of food and other supplies, and some workers have lost their jobs after calling for better safety measures in the fields and packing plants where they work.

Archive – COVID-19 infections among Latinx seeing sharp decline in SCC

9/28/20 After data busted the myth that COVID-19 was “the great equalizer” and made it clear the disease has had disproportionate affects on Santa Clara County’s Latinx population, public health officials say rates finally are starting to decrease in the hardest hit communities.
“The rates among the Latinx community were really soaring in July. They were across the county but particularly steep in the Latinx community and to some extent in the African American community” said Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. “We are now seeing the rates decline not just across the county but most steeply among the Latinx community.”

COVID-19 Guidelines for the General Public

As of April 6, 2022, close contacts in most settings who have been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who are asymptomatic are no longer required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) masking guidance also strongly recommends wearing a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |

San Jose leaders approve recommendations to address COVID-19 health disparities

9/2/20 San Jose leaders unanimously accepted 30 recommendations Sept. 1 from Santa Clara County’s Health and Equity Task Force to tackle growing health disparities in the time of COVID-19.
The recommendations include translating emergency information, contact-tracing, extending rent relief, distributing food and adding additional COVID-19 testing sites.
Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco said as of Aug. 31, more than 170 cases were reported in Santa Clara County, but many residents still don’t know where to get the services they need. Key Words: Equity

USAHello Resources for Newcomers to America

USAHello is a free online center for information and education for refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and welcoming communities. In the USAHello classroom, we offer our GED classes in English and in manually translated Spanish. Our Citizenship class is in manually translated Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese and Swahili. The classroom is also automatically translated into several other languages to help newcomers study and learn English at the same time.Multi-language:
Arabic
French
Spanish

Archive – Tzu Chi Providing Care and Support After Northern California’s Lightning Complex Fire

9/4/20 The CZU fire in the southern Bay Area was one of three major fire sites in the Bay Area. Minjhing Hsieh, Executive Director of Tzu Chi’s Northwest region, visited the Santa Cruz County shelter for the first time on August 27th alongside volunteers Grace Chen and CM Yung. Volunteers learned more about the shelter from the site manager, Mark Larson, who told them that the area is 110 acres, has 71 cabins, and a parking lot that can accommodate 150 RVs. On August 20, nearly 500 evacuees occupied the shelter, of which, about two hundred people lived in the cabins, and about three hundred lived in 130 RVs. Key Words: Disaster

Catchafire – Bay Area Capacity Building Collective

Strengthen your organization with the help of pro bono volunteers. This program connects you with talented professionals looking to give back, allowing you to access expertise in areas such as marketing, web development, operations, strategy, and more.
Catchafire’s menu of 120+ pre-scoped projects, each with specific deliverables and project steps, makes it easy to find what you need and match with a volunteer with the right skills for the job. And if you aren’t sure where to begin, start by talking to a volunteer to get advice and explore ideas. Key Words: CBO,

Coronavirus shutdowns are hitting Bay Area Vietnamese-owned nail salons hard

9/5/20 While most of the state’s businesses have been able to resume some activity, nail salons have remained largely closed under state and local health orders since the start of the pandemic. In most of the Bay Area, as well as Sacramento and Southern California, where cases remain widespread under the state’s new color-coded reopening system, nail salons are not yet allowed to reopen indoors. For many, outdoor operations aren’t an option.
About 70 percent of California’s nail salon workers are Vietnamese-American, according to a 2019 report, and the pandemic is taking a heavy toll on a small business niche that’s been shut for five months now. The report was released by the UCLA Labor Center and the nonprofit California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, which advocates for nail salons.

Need money during coronavirus pandemic? How to avoid loan sharks and debt traps

4/2/20 As millions of Americans lose jobs, shifts and other sources of income during the coronavirus health crisis, financial experts worry that people will be preyed upon by loan sharks who stand to profit.
“We saw this during the foreclosure crisis, where people were in distress and scammers took advantage to promise to help people connect to relief for a fee they could not afford” said Kevin Stein, deputy director of the California Reinvestment Coalition, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for protecting consumers. Key Words: Disaster, Emergency

Farmworker Resilience in the Thomas Fire”Disaster Relief Inequities

2018 The Thomas Fire that struck Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties in December of 2017 was at the time the largest wildfire in California history, and was followed by a deadly mudslide when rains washed down the burnt hillsides. Drought and climate change have made wildfires in California larger, more frequent, and more destructive. While most media attention focuses on expensive hillside properties burning, the effects on immigrant families and low-wage workers are devastating but often unseen. CAUSE worked alongside our partners, the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) and Future Leaders of America (FLA) to respond where our communities were being left behind by the official disaster response. Key Words: Indigenous, immigrant, undocumented

USCIS Wants To Increase the Amount of Biometric Data It Collects by Over 60%

9/9/20 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to dramatically expand the personal information that it collects in support of immigration petitions and applications. This new rule will increase the total number of people who are required to submit biometric data from 3.9 million currently to 6.07 million”an increase of more than 60%.
The proposed rule increases the pool of people who must provide biometrics to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by requiring biometrics from individuals of any age. This will further scrutinize children, and discourage victims of crime from being able to navigate the complex U.S. immigration system.

Emergency Preparedness: Plan (ASL)

This 6-minute video from the Arizona DEMA’s Emergency Preparedness series encourages community members to create a plan for what to do in the case of an emergency. It emphasizes the need for separate versions of this plan for different places you spend time (such as home, work and school), choosing a meeting place out of the area as well as nearby, and discussing with your family the steps to take in either an evacuation or staying in place. It gives advice such creating pre-written messages as it may be easier for those who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate, and checking with local emergency management agency to see if they keep a record of those with access and functional needs.
This video gives a lot of information and details every step of preparing for an emergency situation. Key Words: communication, AFN, Translation, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Disaster, Language Access

Sign Language for First Responders (Evacuate)

Simple, 3-minute video that shows first responders key words in American Sign Language (ASL) that would be helpful in communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing in an evacuation. Words include emergency, help, wait, go, sit, let’s communicate through writing, etc. Overall a well-done video. She repeats the signs a few times to help ingrain them in your head and points out how signs are different if they are similar to one another. Key Words: communication, Language Access

San Jose Rental Assistance Program

Program for qualified SJ residents who are behind on rental payments due to loss of income related to COVID-19. Financial assistance may cover expenses such as rental payments, utilities, and housing deposits from April 2020 through December 2020.
Financial assistance available through Catholic Charities. To apply please call:
Vietnamese: (408) 757-8044 and/or (408) 757-6661.
Spanish: (408) 757-7703 and/or (408) 757-7591.
All other languages and general inquiries: (408) 758-0011.
Applications will be accepted through a lottery system.
For more information about eligibility, please call the rental assistance program at (408) 758-0011
Multi-lingual: Spanish, Vietnamese

Next Door Solutions (NDS) – Domestic Violence

The premier domestic violence agency in Santa Clara County. We are the only stand-alone domestic violence agency and the largest provider of these services. 24/7 HOTLINE for victims of domestic violence (408) 279-2962 Multi-language: Spanish, Vietnamese

MENTAL HEALTH – WomenSV (Domestic Violence Support)

We work one-on-one with survivors to help them find the means to break free from abuse and go on to build healthier lives for themselves and their children. We assist with safety planning, provide court and attorney accompaniments and connect survivors to resources and help available to them, based on their specific needs. We educate the community, train providers and empower survivors to break the cycle of abuse in middle-to-upper income areas so that every woman and child can exercise their fundamental human right to be free and safe in their own home. Key Words: SCC, legal, Los Altos

How to Create Pandemic-Proof Grief Support at Work

Workplaces have long struggled to address grief and death, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Often, companies default to a standard 3 day bereavement leave policy and don’t account for the diverse ways people approach their grief. Of the many things this pandemic has brought to light, one is that employers are wholly unprepared to support the grieving workplace that will soon return to their desks.

Healing the Impacts of Racism

This Beginner’s Anti-Racism Toolkit toolkit was created as a response to the powerful uprising of anti-racism activism sparked by the ongoing work of the Black Lives Matter movement and a wave of protests against police brutality and systemic racism in America.
This guide tackles the three main areas of support that we at Collective have seen surface again and again for our clients- a need for healing, processing and making sense of this moment, and taking action toward explicit anti-racism. Key Words: Mental Health

Choices for Children

Need help paying for child care: California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP):
The family must be income eligible and children must be under 13 years of age or have exceptional needs. Our staff assist families in identifying child care and other community services that meet the specific needs of the child and family. Multi-lingual: Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian

Online Traffic Fine Reduction Request

8/15/20 If you have a financial hardship and can show that you are unable to pay the full amount for your traffic ticket, you may request the court to consider your ability to pay. The Judicial Council and eight California Superior Courts are working together to develop a new online option for people struggling with traffic court debt. The “MyCitations” tool allows people to look up their traffic citation, answer a series of simple questions and submit a request to the court for a possible reduction in the amount owed. Users can also request a payment plan, more time to pay or community service.
Spanish

ICE Detention Management

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) manages and oversees the nation’s civil immigration detention system. ICE detainees placed in ERO custody represent virtually every country in the world, various security classifications, both genders and medical conditions ranging from healthy to terminally ill.
Key Words: Statistics, demographics

Data and Analysis Related to Trump Administration Actions on Immigrant and Refugee Policy

8/1/20 Since entering office, the Trump administration has proposed or implemented policies on a wide range of immigration issues, touching on everything from asylum to deportation policy, refugee resettlement, and admissions from certain majority-Muslim countries. These MPI research and data resources offer context to policy changes achieved and proposed, as well as the populations they affect.
For a record of immigration developments since the Trump administration began, check out this resource:
Dismantling and Reconstructing the U.S. Immigration System: A Catalog of Changes under the Trump Presidency.

Archive – Be Prepared for Wildfires during COVID-19

A wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. Wildfires are increasing in size and intensity across the United States, and these trends are expected to continue. As communities expand into natural areas, homes are increasingly situated in or near areas prone to wildfires, called the wild and urban interface. Key Words: American Red Cross, ARC,
Multi-language:
Spanish |
French |
Simplified Chinese |
Traditional Chinese |
Korean |
Vietnamese

Archive – Immigrant Eligibility for Public Programs During COVID-19

3/26/21 This table provides a general overview of some of the federal public programs available to support individuals and families during the COVID-19 crisis under existing law, as well as the recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
We have also included clarification about whether these public programs are taken into account for public charge purposes. Additional information about the public charge regulations is available in this FAQ document from the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Campaign. Multi-language: Spanish

Racism Is a Public Health Crisis, Say Cities and Counties

6/15/20 Being black is bad for your health. And pervasive racism is the cause.
That’s the conclusion of multiple public health studies over more than three decades. “We do know that health inequities at their very core are due to racism” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “There’s no doubt about that.”
More recently, research has shown that racial health disparities don’t just affect poor African Americans, but they also cross class lines, Benjamin said. “As a black man, my status, my suit and tie don’t protect me.”

Lack of Access to Information Implies Double Risk for Latinos During The COVID-19 Pandemic

8/18/20 As reported by NBC News, the combination of mass misinformation on social media and inconsistent signals from the U.S. government is now a “particular threat” to communities of color in the country, which continue to represent the highest rates of infection and hospitalization.
The media explains that the fact that these communities have higher levels of mistrust of government, less access to health care, and lack of information in Spanish is now “a dangerous mix.” Key Words: Language Access

Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants in Various States

7/21 Federally funded Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) is available to otherwise-eligible “qualified” immigrants who entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996, and those who have held a “qualified” status for five years or longer. Refugees and other “humanitarian” immigrants, veterans, active duty military and their spouses and children, and certain other immigrants can get Medicaid or CHIP without a five-year waiting period.
The table describes state policies for providing health coverage to additional groups of immigrants.

Archive – Disaster Relief and COVID-19 Related Assistance not Considered in Public Charge

8/20 Excerpts from the USCIS Public Charge link
….The Public Charge rule does not restrict access to testing, screening, or treatment of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. In addition, the rule does not restrict access to vaccines for children or adults to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases. Importantly, for purposes of a public charge inadmissibility determination,.
…..The rule does not include consideration of emergency medical assistance, disaster relief, national school lunch programs, foster care and adoption, student and mortgage loans, energy assistance, food pantries and homeless shelters and Head Start.Key Words: Immigrants

Disability Rights Videos

Rooted in Rights – Videos on accessibility, alt text, and AFN Tools and resources. Redefining narratives around disability, mental health and chronic illness. As part of Disability Rights Washington, our Seattle-based team of disabled video producers, editors and digital organizers partner with both local coalitions and national advocacy campaigns to fight for concrete changes for our community. Key Words: AFN, Access & Functional Needs, BLM, KYR

Disability Disaster Hotline

The Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies, organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs.
available for intake calls, 24/7 at (800) 626-4959 and info@disasterstrategies.org. We will respond to your call as soon as possible, often immediately, and we intend to respond to all callers within 24 hours.

COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations

On December 15, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to adopt non-emergency COVID-19 prevention regulations. These regulations took effect on February 3, 2023 and will remain in effect for two years after the effective date, except for the recordkeeping subsections that will remain in effect for three years.
These regulations include some of the same requirements found in the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), as well as new provisions aimed at making it easier for employers to provide consistent protections to workers and allow for flexibility if changes are made to guidance in the future from the California Department of Public Health.

Ujima Family Recovery Services

Ujima is a non-profit agency dedicated to helping families recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and behavioral health problems. The programs include Alcohol and Drug Education, Parent Education, Peer Mentoring, Clinical and Psychiatric Support Services and Therapeutic Child Care. We collaborate with the county and other agencies for the provision of case management, foster care and family support services. Serving Contra Costa County

Ujima Adult and Family Services

Provides culturally proficient mental health services to African youth, their families, and adults. Case management services are provided in the home and are available on a 24-hour basis. Refers clients to community resources to support academic success and allows clients to remain at home with their family. The African Adult Program provides 24-hour culturally proficient mental health services for the seriously mentally ill. Services include case management, medications, treatment and crisis intervention. Multi-language: Amharic, Creole, Somali, Tigrinya

California Teleconnect Fund (CTF)

The CTF is a program run by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that provides a 25% discount on select telephone services and 50% discounts on broadband services to schools, libraries, hospitals and about 7,000 Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Money for the discount comes from a surcharge paid by telephone customers (“ratepayers”) on their monthly phone bills.
501(c)3 and 501(d) nonprofits can apply for the Fund as a Community Based Organization.

One Nation 2019 Report -Built on the Strength of Immigrants

10/2019 This report was published in conjunction with the Tri- Caucus (Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus) in Washington, D.C.
A resource and tool with facts, data, research, imagery, and curated stories that show that immigrants make America stronger. Key Words: Demographics, research
Multi-language: Chinese |
Korean |
Tagalog |
Mongolian |
Vietnamese

Peninsula Food Runners

Our recipients include soup kitchens, shelters, low-income residences, affordable housing centers, schools, senior centers, family centers, homeless programs and group homes. We deliver 70,000+ healthy nutritious meals weekly to 400+ agencies on a regular or rotating basis. in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Also serving several Recipient Agencies in San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, and Union City. For Donor and Recipients in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, contact us for our partner organizations.
SIGN-UP – We’ve partnered with ChowMatch to manage our food donations. To receive free surplus food, please sign-up on the ChowMatch application and we will do our best to bring you free healthy meals that meet your needs.

Supply Bank

SupplyBank.Org operates like a food bank, but for supplies. That means we manufacture, procure and receive large quantities of basic needs material items and send them to 450 other local agencies that distribute them to their clients in locations throughout California. This is how we are supporting under resourced children and families during this unprecedented time.
New Agency Partners: If you are a social service agency, WIC, First 5 (Children and Families Commission), school district, domestic violence shelter or other public assistance agency in need of basic material resources, please email programs@supplybank.org or call 510.569.5862 Monday through Friday from 8AM-5PM.

Immigrant Defense Project

IDP’s team of attorneys and advocates have expertise in a variety of areas at the intersection of the criminal and immigration systems. Criminal-Immigration Helpline
IDP offers criminal-immigration advice and support to immigrants and their loved ones. 212.725.6422 Key Words: ICE, Deportation

American Red Cross Individual and Group Emotional Support for Frontline Workers

This ARC free service helps frontline workers cope with the stress of working with families affected by COVID 19. Individuals may call our tollfree number 833-492-0094. Groups may schedule a support session using the
Psychological First Aid Training Request Form. Red Cross volunteers who are professional healthcare providers, mental health providers and spiritual care providers will work with the individual directly or can schedule a group support session. All services are free and confidential. You are not alone!

Archive – ARC – Preparing for Disaster During COVID-19

Disasters can cause sudden challenges like knocking out power, blocking roads, disrupting the response of emergency services, and causing stores and pharmacies to close for an extended period. COVID-19 adds to this complexity. Prepare now so that you have critical skills and can meet your basic needs. Key Words: American Red Cross Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Simplified Chinese |
Traditional Chinese |
Korean |
Tagalog |
Arabic |
French |
Haitian |

Archive – Follow up – USCIS Upends the Lives of Immigrants by Refusing to Print Their Work Permits and Green Cards

8/3/20 On August 3, 2020, a federal court in Ohio granted a temporary restraining order requiring USCIS to print a work permit within 7 days for all individuals who had been approved for one.
The USCIS recently cut production of these documents after its contract ended with a third-party printing company. Reports indicate that 50,000 green cards and 75,000 work permits have not been printed. The agency said it planned to manage the production of these documents in-house, but that its ability to do so is limited due to budgetary constraints. Key Words: Employment

NIH All of Us Research Program

The All of Us Research Program is inviting one million people across the U.S. to help build one of the most diverse health databases in history. We welcome participants from all backgrounds. Researchers will use the data to learn how our biology, lifestyle, and environment affect health. This could help them develop better treatments and ways to prevent different diseases. The mission of the All of Us Research Program is to accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs, enabling individualized prevention, treatment, and care for all of us.

SCC Mental Health Guide for Immigrants.

The Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR), in partnership with the SCC Behavioral Health Services, have developed a mental health guide for immigrants. This brochure includes guidance on:
Where to get mental health services in Santa Clara County
Tips on what to do if you are worried about a loved one suffering from a mental health illness
Additional immigrant resources
Multi-language:
English |
Spanish |
Vietnamese |

Uplift Family Services

The richly diverse Bay Area can be fast-paced and transitory. The ever-widening gap between socioeconomic levels has left many families struggling, feeling isolated and disconnected from a close-knit community.
When Uplift Family Services steps up to help, we are typically addressing both mental health and basic needs, including food and clothing. The biggest behavioral health needs include depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance abuse, school bullying, behavioral issues and parenting skills. CADRE Member, Key Words: Mental Health

Kara Grief Support

Kara’s mission is to provide grief support for children, teens, families and adults. Our guiding values are empathy and compassion. Free one-on-one peer counseling or support groups with trained volunteers or sliding scale fee therapy with a professional licensed therapist. We serve individuals who are grieving a death as well as those managing a terminal illness (their own or another’s).
Call 650-321-5272 or fill in this online form.
Multi-language: Spanish
Serving primarily Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Inclusive emergency Response – Immigrants Essential and Vulnerable in San José

8/7/20 New research from New American Economy (NAE) released today in partnership with the City of San José highlights how immigrants are both essential to San José’s rapid response efforts and especially vulnerable due to gaps in federal relief packages, language access barriers, and increased risks of infection associated with frontline and essential work.
San José is one of twelve recipients of NAE research to inform culturally sensitive emergency response measures that ensure all residents are included, regardless of immigration status. Key Words: COVID-19, Coronavirus, Disaster, undocumented

CommonLit Free reading activities and digital tools for at-home learning

CommonLit is a nonprofit on a mission to ensure that all children have the reading and writing skills to succeed in college and beyond.
CommonLit’s free lessons exist in both a printable and digital format. As a parent, you have complete flexibility to assign lessons to your child digitally or print them out for your child to complete on paper as you see fit.
Multi-language: Spanish
Key Words: Literacy

InformaGente COVID-19 Youtube conversation for Latinx Community

Listos California, in partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA), launched “InformaGente,” a new online conversation series to foster a culture of emergency readiness among Latinx communities.
5/28/20 The first InformaGente conversation features actor Nicholas Gonzalez, star of ABC’s The Good Doctor, and Dr. Gil Chavez, Senior Advisor to the Director of the California Department of Public Health. Dr. Chavez and Mr. Gonzalez discuss issues related to COVID-19 from hand washing and physical distancing, to concerns about visiting a doctor due to immigration status.
Multi-language: Spanish

Nonprofit Insurance Alliance

NIA is a 501(c)3 serving over 20,000 nonprofit organizations in 32 states and the District of Columbia rely on us for their liability and property insurance. These nonprofits include animal rescues, children’s programs, group homes, senior organizations, art programs, food banks, community groups, foster family agencies and many others. These organizations are essential to the health of the communities they serve. Key Words: Disaster

Kidpower 30-Skill Challenge™ eHandbook

This coaching eHandbook provides a step-by-step teaching tool that any caring adult can use to teach vital “People Safety” skills to prepare children and teens to take charge of their emotional and physical safety, increase their confidence, and develop healthy relationships. These are skills that last a lifetime. Offered free during the COVID-19 Crisis $19.95 later. Multi-language: – English, Spanish, Arabic

Discount Clipper START Card

Save on San Francisco Bay Area transit. with a pilot program to provide single-ride discounts to eligible riders. Participants can receive: a 50% discount on Caltrain, Muni, and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry, and a 20% discount on BART,
To qualify, you must…**Be a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area **Be 19-64 years old **Not have an RTC Clipper Card for people with disabilities **Have a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Multi-language: , ,
Spanish |
Chinese |
Tagalog |

Promoting a Safe and Secure Campus for All

Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California’s Colleges and Universities in Responding to Immigration Issues – This guide implements the Legislature’s decision to limit state and local participation in immigration enforcement activities. Such participation diverts state resources, blurs lines of accountability, and threatens trust between immigrant communities and state and local
agencies that provide critical public services.

San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund

Immigrants are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, risking their health and well-being every day to keep our society going. And yet, many immigrants were left out of the CARES Act relief. The San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund – initially funded by a generous contribution from John A. and Susan Sobrato – is providing financial support to immigrant families left out of the federal government’s relief efforts. Immigrant families may be eligible to receive a $1,000 grant to help in this time of crisis.

SCC Community Resources for Youth, Families and Individuals Impacted by COVID-19

Santa Clara County Directory – Many services are available to all members of our community, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
If you, a family member or someone you know has been impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and need food assistance, health services, financial help, legal assistance or other support services, here are some available resources that can help.

Silicon Valley lawmaker examines links between racism, the environment and COVID-19

7/17/20 During a committee hearing this week, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose said the coronavirus pandemic has clearly exposed systemic racism in the United States.
“It didn’t create it, but it revealed the divisions” she said. “We have an opportunity now to examine the broad scope of that and to come up with a path forward for change.”
The congresswoman was speaking at a virtual hearing to discuss the links between racism, environmental hazards and the coronavirus pandemic. Key Words: Equity

Judge rules ICE must allow detainees free, private calls with attorneys during pandemic

4/11/20 A federal judge ruled Saturday that immigration enforcement officials must allow confidential telephone calls between detainees at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and their attorneys in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The 15-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must reverse a policy that critics said made it virtually impossible for detainees and their attorneys to confer in private at the facility, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County.
Bernal wrote that the agency must provide “free, reasonably private legal calls on unrecorded and unmonitored telephone lines, and must devise a reliable procedure for attorneys as well as detainees to schedule those calls within 24 hours of a request.” Key Words: Detention, KYR, Know Your Rights

Asian Americans Facing High COVID-19 Case Fatality

7/13/20 In San Francisco, a steady trend in coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths has gone largely unnoticed until recently: Asian Americans consistently account for nearly half of COVID-19 deaths. For a city that is one-third Asian American, the disproportionate number of deaths appears striking, yet this highlights an even more worrisome statistic”Asian Americans experience a four times higher case fatality rate (CFR) than that of the overall population (5.2 percent versus 1.3 percent).
Key Words: Demographics, API, immigrant

Conscious & Unconscious Biases in Health Care

Although many underlying causes contribute to health care disparities, the IOM concluded that bias, stereotyping, prejudice, and clinical uncertainty on the part of health care providers may be major contributing factors.8 New evidence has shed light on the following: the dynamics of conscious and unconscious biases; the effects of bias on patients and providers; and the correlation between bias, differential treatment, and disparities in the health status and outcomes for specific racial, ethnic, and other cultural groups. Key Words: Training, Cultural Competency

Pacific Islanders hit hard by the coronavirus

7/19/20 ‘I was naive to think this couldn’t touch my family’.
In L.A. County, Pacific Islanders suffer the highest infection rate of any racial or ethnic group, more than 2,500 per 100,000 residents. That’s six times higher than for white people, five times higher than for Black people and three times higher than for Latinos, according to county health demographic data that exclude Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments.
Key Words: API, Asian Pacific

Self-Care in Difficult Times

Updated from April 2018 Immigrantinfo Blog – Links to some free local resources for adults and children, Also a few relaxation and energy therapy options for anyone who would like relief from stress and anxiety. These techniques were chosen because:
***They are simple and effective***They are free and do not require the assistance of a Therapist***They are not language intensive, although for some there are multi-language handouts
| English | Arabic | Dari | Farsi | French | German | Somali | Spanish | Tigrinya |.

San Jose takes pride in its diversity but has no in-house translators

7/23/20 With more than half the households in San Jose speaking a language other than English, the nation’s 10th largest city doesn’t have full-time staff dedicated to translation and interpretation at City Hall.
Without full-time translators on staff, San Jose Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco, whose constituents include many monolingual Spanish speakers, has come to expect her own bilingual-certified team to fill the void.

Safety Planning During COVID-19: Tips From Domestic Violence Survivors For Survivors

The Safety Planning Guide was created by members of Sanctuary’s Survivor Leadership program and has been reviewed by multiple clinicians. The guide draws from survivors’ and clinicians’ expertise, as well as from safety planning models from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Sanctuary for Families, and Love is Respect. DV Planning Handout En
Multi-language:
Spanish
| French
| German
| Arabic
| Korean
Korean

UndocuHealth Project Emergency Toolkit

The United We Dream (UWD) UndocuHealth Project was started to facilitate the incorporation and daily practice of self-love, community healing, and wellness when organizing in times of trouble, turbulence, and chaos. The Toolkit was designed to alleviate not only the stress and anxiety of folks across the nation and keep ours families secure, but also to give the reader tools that will allow them to conduct safe zone events and incorporate stress reducing activities within their community work and daily lives.
Things like music-ivism, artivism, and breathing practices is what will transform these anxieties and insecurities into something positive! Key Words: Undocumented,

Seeking Sustainability: How Can Nonprofits Survive the Pandemic?

6/19/20 Here in Los Angeles, leaders across the region are working to identify ways to safely reopen the economy. Some sectors are eager to get back to business, while others are worried about whether or not it is safe to return. But for the most part, the nonprofit sector has stayed in business out of necessity. Nonprofits are too often a lifeline for vulnerable communities during times of crisis, and, during the pandemic especially, unemployment rates have ballooned, disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities.

IRC Individual Development Account (IDA)

START SAVING – Get up to $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for families to buy a car or pay for school. This is not a loan”you never need to pay this money back! Start learning about American finances, building your credit, managing your money, and investing in your future through the Saving Together Program. Eligibility requirements:
– Refugee, Asylee, SIV or T-Visa
– Arrival date <3 years for car or <5 years for education - Low to medium income range For more info contact International Rescue Committee– Lonny Dara (408) 529-7395 Lonny.Dara@Rescue.org
Key Words: Education, Scholarship,

Silicon Valley Pain Index shows ‘white supremacy’ prevalent across institutions

6/23/20 First-ever local index highlights 65 statistics of inequality
The San Jose State University Human Rights Institute on Tuesday unveiled the Silicon Valley Pain Index, the first of planned annual reports focusing on racial discrimination and income inequality in the region.
Coming at a time when institutional biases against Black people and communities of color are under heightened scrutiny, the index leans on the latest available data and reporting to call out disparities such as the disproportionately high death rate of Latinos from COVID-19 in SCC and the overwhelmingly white makeup of tech company executive suites.
The Silicon Valley Pain Index shows that white supremacy is operating in most all of the institutions and systems in Santa Clara County, whether it be in the criminal justice system, the economy, education, healthcare, or housing,
Key Words: Diversity, Racism

Cityteam

For those living below the poverty line in Santa Clara County:
Community Services providing them food boxes, backpacks, school supplies, diapers, hygiene items, clothing, household items, and furniture.
Medical & Dental Clinic volunteer doctors and dentists provide medical and dental care to those in need.
Phone: (408) 288-2185 sjrescue@cityteam.org
Key Words: COVID-19, Coronavirus, SCC

Midtown Family Services

Family crisis response services is a vital part for families to become stably housed and economically self-sufficient. we provides a comprehensive range of support services designed specifically for those in distress. Key Words: Rental Assistance, casework

Archive – United Policyholders joins 1500 other non-profits to help solve an insurance crisis hitting our sector

6/20 A record number of Americans are in dire financial straits and relying on charitable sources for their meals. The food banks and meal delivery services providing those meals are non-profit businesses.
So is United Policyholders and the many partners we work with to provide free services to disaster survivors. Like all businesses, we non-profits need liability and property insurance in order to operate legally and safely. We need insurance to protect our facilities, workers, drivers, assets and the people we serve.
But even before the pandemic, liability and property insurance options for non-profits had sharply decreased with a dwindling few companies left for us to buy from. This has been particularly impacting non-profits that serve and deliver food.
Nonprofit Property Protection Act
Key Words: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Disaster

Seeking Sustainability: How Can Nonprofits Survive the Pandemic?

6/19/20 ……The sector that is arguably the most needed is itself struggling to survive. “Sustainability” seems out of reach.
What do we do? Is our work “sustainable”? Not in the traditional sense of generating your own revenue so you don’t need to rely on any outside support. But, there are some things we can do now to reposition our organizations”and in so doing, the nonprofit sector overall”to better, and more sustainably, serve our communities.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Noncitizens and Across the U.S. Immigration System

5/20 This report from the American Immigration Council, seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of COVID-19-related disruptions throughout the immigration system and identifies recommendations for adjustments and improvements to the federal response. Given that the landscape of immigration policy is changing rapidly in the face of the pandemic, this report will be updated as needed. Key Words: Coronavirus, detention, deportation,

Santa Clara County Extra Help Vote Center Staff

Most Vote Center Staff will be working multiple days and therefore will need to be hired as Santa Clara County Extra Help employees. Applicants should be U.S. Citizens and registered voters or Legal Permanent Residents and at least 18 years of age. All Extra Help Vote Center Staff must successfully complete paid multiday training classes starting in early September. Work dates range from late October to November 4, 2020. Follow the appropriate link below to apply online, once your application is approved and referred to our office, we will contact you to schedule training classes and vote center assignment. Key Words: Employment, jobs, SCC

Government issues first-ever official estimate of H-1B visa population in U.S.

6/26/20 The federal government on Friday issued a first-ever official estimate of the number of people in the U.S. who hold the controversial H-1B work visa, intended for jobs requiring specialized skills but attacked by critics over reported abuses.
At the end of September, there were “approximately” 583,420 people on the H-1B living in the U.S, according to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration report. The agency provided estimates going back the previous three years, but gave total numbers of people whose H-1B applications were approved, rather than the total it believes have been living in the country. The larger “approved” numbers don’t factor in withdrawals of approval or changes in visa status.

SJPL Works: Career & Business

SJPL Works unites the expertise of the area’s top leaders in economic and workforce development to create an extensive network of resources for employment seekers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. We have partnered with numerous local organizations, including Employment Development Department (EDD), SCORE, Silicon Valley Talent Partnership, Robert Half, SJSU Career Center, US Patent & Trademark Office, AnewAmerica, and work2future.

Tech Interactive at Home

Teachers and parents, we’ve pulled together a collection of lesson plans and activities that you can adapt for at-home learning. You’ll find a variety of materials for different grade levels, subjects and levels of independence, but what they all share is our mission of developing the problem-solvers of tomorrow. Key Words: Education, children, Multi-language:
Spanish

Archive – GSMA”Worldwide Association Of Mobile Operators

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.
As part of their Disaster Response Programme they also have an excellent page dealing with Refugee Connectivity