Provider Type: Government

Government

Santa Clara County wants employers to require vaccines for employees

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

5 Things To Know About the Delta Variant

7/22/21 For the first time in more than a year, we’re feeling some hope”or at least cautious optimism”that the pandemic could recede to the background. But experts want us to know that there is still a concern that new mutations of the virus could bring it back, and it might be even stronger.
From what we know so far, people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus appear to have protection against Delta, but anyone who is unvaccinated and not practicing preventive strategies is at risk for infection by the new variant, the doctors say.
Key Words: Pandemic, COVID-19

Dignity Not Detention

The Dignity Not Detention Act, passed in 2017 in California, is the first law in the country to halt immigration
detention growth and create more transparency and accountability in the U.S. immigration detention system. This is huge because California detains a quarter of all people in U.S. immigration detention each year. What
California does has a dramatic effect on the immigration detention
The bills that were signed into law in California are not perfect, but they are a huge step forward. Essentially, the
bills place a moratorium on immigration detention growth in the state of CA.

San Francisco Respect and Love Toolkits

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

Young children will pay the price if enough US adults don’t get vaccinated, says expert

7/15/21 Children will likely pay the price for adults in the US not getting vaccinated at high enough rates to slow or stop the spread of Covid-19, which has been surging in most states, a vaccine expert said.
If vaccination rates among adults and kids 12 and older keep lagging amid increased spread of the Delta variant, the youngest members of the population will be most affected, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccinologist and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

San Jose’s Vietnamese community struggles with its political voice

7/9/21 In a city with the largest Vietnamese population in the nation, Vietnamese Americans are still struggling to find their voices in politics.
The lack”and loss”of Vietnamese representation in San Jose politics is the result of a number of factors, community leaders say, including an inherited distrust in politics and a generational and ideological division in the community.

State rent relief program serves South Bay residents

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

Supreme Court Denies Bond Hearings to People Pursuing Protection Claims Who Have Prior Removal Orders

6/30/21 The Supreme Court issued a decision on June 29 in the Johnson v. Guzman Chavez case. The majority of the justices determined that people with prior removal orders are subject to mandatory detention, even while they pursue proceedings to stop their deportation to a country where they established they have a reasonable fear of persecution or torture.
Without the opportunity to be released on bond, these individuals face months and even years in detention as they pursue protection in what are known as withholding-only proceedings. Withholding of removal is a form of protection that prohibits the U.S. government from deporting someone to a country where they will be persecuted or tortured.

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

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

SCC OIR Newsletter: June 2021

This month we celebrate our LGBTQ+ community by recognizing trailblazers that have fought for our rights to exist fully and authentically and we uplift Immigrant Heritage Month as we acknowledge the contributions of our essential workers, contributions to our economy ,and honor the sacrifices made for a better life! We continue to fight against anti-Asian hate and push for more immigration relief efforts. Additionally, we reflect on the long history of Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th in remembrance of the day all people living in the United States, including formerly enslaved, were granted freedom. This year, President Biden signed a bill acknowledging Juneteenth as a national holiday.

More Contagious Delta Variant Now Dominating California

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

Tsunami hazard map: The Bay Area neighborhoods you should flee on foot

7/9/21 An interactive map from the California Geological Survey shows which Bay Area neighborhoods should be evacuated on foot when there’s risk of a tsunami. If you’re there when a long earthquake hits, walk to safety in the green zone
An overview of CA Tsunami Preparedness Guide, including tsunami hazard map and data, and how the state presents updates to these.

How to get emergency alerts about California wildfires and other disasters

7/9/21 Wildfire season is here. And because a fire can start and spread in mere moments, the best way to survive is to get out of the fire’s path – quickly.
Every fire season there are countless reports of people who relied on alerts that never arrived because they didn’t know they needed to sign up for them. In other instances, the equipment failed. Or the alert arrived, but residents were confused about how and where to evacuate.
Thanks to the recent advancements, officials can now notify and protect residents with life-saving instructions and information through specialized mass communication tools.

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

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

Free WiFi Hotspots for Low Income SJ Families

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

READY, SET, GO! Wildfire Action Plan

You can dramatically increase your safety and the survivability of your property by preparing well in advance of a wildfire. This brochure provides comprehensive information on how to improve your home’s resistance to
wildfires and prepare your family to be ready to leave early in a safe manner. The guide illustrates the importance of having defensible space around your home and it will help educate you about the preparations you need to make so you can leave early and evacuate well ahead of a wildfire. Multi-language:
Spanish

SJ Language Access Policy

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

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

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

This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. These counties are using it to protect employers instead.

6/21/21 In the thick of the pandemic, California adopted a law to tell workers of dangers their employers often kept secret: Which workplaces had suffered outbreaks of COVID-19, and how severe they were. Yet six months after the law took effect, most employees know scarcely more than before, a Bay Area News Group investigation has found.
Only about one-third of the state’s 58 counties released specific information on workplace outbreaks in response to recent public records requests, and those specifics varied wildly.

Archive – Fire risk amid a housing crisis – California’s challenging new reality

6/22/21 Even as Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers rush to extend California’s eviction moratorium before it expires next week, another big deadline looms on the horizon. In November, the state’s moratorium on insurance companies dropping coverage for Californians living in wildfire-prone areas is set to end ” meaning at least 2.1 million residents could soon find themselves without homeowners’ insurance.

Bad to horrific’: Racial discrimination and wealth inequality grew under COVID-19

6/23/21 Inequality in Silicon Valley has gone from “bad to horrific” over the pandemic, as indicators such as hunger, homelessness, income inequality and the wealth gap have all increased since last June, new research shows.
“While our community was shocked at the incredibly high levels of racial discrimination and income and wealth inequality detailed in the 2020 (report), the 2021 Silicon Valley Pain Index shows how the level of inequality during this pandemic has gone from bad to horrific” the report said.
The Silicon Valley Pain Index, conducted by the San Jose State University Human Rights Institute, is an annual report focusing on racial discrimination and income inequality in the region. The report was inspired by an index compiled about New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Biden Will Admit Asylum Seekers Ordered Deported Under Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols

6/23/21 Asylum seekers who were ordered deported for missing their U.S. court hearings under the Trump administration’s so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)”informally known as the “Remain in Mexico” program”will be allowed to restart their proceedings in the United States. Thousands of others whose cases were terminated because of procedural errors before they had a chance to seek asylum will also be allowed to restart the process.

Outsmart Disaster

5/21 The Outsmart Disaster campaign aims to equip California businesses with the tools they need to get back to business faster in the face of any disaster. Key Words: Employer, preparation
The Resilient Business Challenge is a virtual, self-guided process composed of five steps. Each step covers a different topic and includes assessments, materials, training, and processes to help your business become more resilient. Also available: Resiliency Tool Kit

Employer Vaccination Toolkit

5/21/21 The Employer Vaccination Toolkit provides employers with vaccine education materials, information on COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave and other guidance for employees, and an online form to request vaccination support.
Employers interested in requesting group appointments at nearby providers, or setting up a mobile or pop-up vaccination clinic at their workplace, must complete an online form. A representative will follow up within three business days, and requests will be filled as resources allow. There is no financial cost to the employer. Multi-language:
Spanish

711 Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)

Free TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services permit persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a text telephone (TTY) or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.

Dial 711 to be automatically connected to a TRS communications assistant. It’s fast, functional and free. Dialing 711, both voice and TTY-based TRS users can initiate a call from any telephone, anywhere in the US, without having to remember and dial a ten-digit access number.
Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |
Korean |
Key Words: Access and Functional Needs, Communication, AFN

What to do if you lost your Vaccine Card

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

Silicon Valley, a Global Pandemic,and a Better Normal

6/21 The COVID-19 crisis has caused major disruption across Silicon Valley and exacerbated long-standing structural inequities, demanding a strong response. Silicon Valley has never been satisfied with the status quo, so we set our sights higher. Our Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable (SVRR) colleagues were tasked with finding ways to emerge from the pandemic into a better, more inclusive, and more equitable region where we could make strides toward resolving long-standing challenges,
and address those magnified by COVID-19.

National Integrated Drought Information System

View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and county level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across California using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Key Words: Weather, Water

Free Ride to Vaccine Clinics

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

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

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

CDC warns of increasing teen hospitalizations due to COVID

6/4/21 It’s been less than a month that those age 12 to 15 have been able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but medical experts say it’s more important than ever.
“Early in the pandemic, a year ago we were told the messaging was children don’t get infected or sick or transmit to others all of those are false statements” Stanford Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Yvonne Maldonado said.

As laws tackle anti-Asian attacks, advocates push focus to the hate behind the crime

6/13/21 Rather than wait for new crimes against Asian Americans, community leaders push for more actions and policies to address root causes of racial animus

As anti-Asian assaults and harassment continue to surge across the country, community leaders are trying to redirect the unprecedented political and legislative attention on hate crimes against Asian Americans toward policies aimed at addressing the underlying racism fueling these attacks.

Congress passes bill to fight hate crimes vs. Asian Americans

5/19/21 Congress approved legislation Tuesday intended to curtail a striking rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sending President Joe Biden a bipartisan denunciation of the spate of brutal attacks that have proliferated during coronavirus pandemic.
The bill, which the House passed on a 364-62 vote, will expedite the review of hate crimes at the Justice Department and make grants available to help local law enforcement agencies improve their investigation, identification and reporting of incidents driven by bias, which often go underreported. It previously passed the Senate 94-1 in April after lawmakers reached a compromise. Biden has said he will sign it.

Children Now Account For 22% of New U.S. COVID Cases. Why Is That?

5/3/21 The number of children contracting COVID-19 in the U.S. is much lower than the record highs set at the start of the new year, but children now account for more than a fifth of new coronavirus cases in states that release data by age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. It’s a statistic that may surprise many: Just one year ago, child COVID-19 cases made up only around 3% of the U.S. total.
Key Words: Pandemic

CWS Commends President Biden for Fulfilling Pledge to Increase Refugee Admissions Goal to 62,500 in FY 2021

5/3/21 Setting the stage to set an admissions goal of 125,000 next year, CWS urges the administration to immediately rebuild the resettlement program to resettle as many refugees as possible this year
Church World Service today commended President Biden’s announcement to formally increase the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to 62,500 for the remainder of the fiscal year. This will allow thousands of screened refugees to finally be resettled in the United States to join family members, escape peril, and build new lives in safety. This follows a months-long delay in finalizing an increased admissions goal, which jeopardized the safety of many and had already caused irreparable damage to thousands of refugees who were already approved for resettlement.

Guide to Promoting Immigrant Health

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

Uber, Lyft to Provide Free Rides to Covid-19 Vaccine Sites Until July 4

5/11/21 Ride-sharing companies Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. will make all rides to and from vaccination sites free until July 4 under a new partnership with the White House.
While the companies were already providing free or discounted rides in some circumstances, the rides will now be free to anyone in the U.S. who is going to a vaccination site to get the shot, and Lyft and Uber will promote the rides to and from tens of thousands of vaccination sites through their apps. The feature will launch in the next two weeks and run until July 4, when Mr. Biden has aimed to have enough people vaccinated to allow for safer Independence Day gatherings. Key Words: Pandemic

CDC Advisers Endorse Pfizer Vaccine for Children Ages 12 to 15

5/10/21 The federal government on Wednesday took a final step toward making the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine available to adolescents in the United States, removing an obstacle to school reopenings and cheering millions of families weary of pandemic restrictions.
An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend the vaccine for use in children ages 12 to 15. The C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, formally adopted the recommendation on Wednesday evening.

SCC OIR Newsletter: May 2021

The Office of Immigrant Relations is excited to launch “WE BELONG: Our Voice, Our Story, and Our Solution!” a project of the New American Fellowship Cohort V. DACA recipients will participate in a 10-week fellowship where they will receive mentorship from distinguished Santa Clara County leaders, learn from and uplift some of the County’s most impactful grassroots leaders and community-based organizations, and shape and execute a community-based research project.

Refugees arriving in US unlikely to exceed cap set by Trump

5/16/21 President Joe Biden, under political pressure, agreed to admit four times as many refugees this budget year as his predecessor did, but resettlement agencies concede the number actually allowed into the U.S. will be closer to the record-low cap of 15,000 set by former President Donald Trump.
Refugee advocates say they are grateful for the increase because it’s symbolically important to show the world the United States is back as a humanitarian leader at a time when the number of refugees worldwide is the highest since World War II. But they’re frustrated, too, because more refugees could have been admitted if Biden hadn’t dragged his feet.

Biden is taking steps to improve legal representation for the poor

5/18/21 President Biden on Tuesday released a plan to bolster legal services for the poor, an overlooked and underfunded element of the justice reform agenda that he campaigned on implementing to address inequality and police violence.
Ahead of his trip to Michigan, Mr. Biden signed a memorandum directing the Department of Justice to reopen the Access to Justice Office, a 2010 Obama-era initiative intended to create new legal services programs that was shut down under President Donald J. Trump.
He will also reconstitute a task force in the White House to discuss expansion of legal aid for low-income people and minority groups.

ICE ends Trump-era policy of fining undocumented immigrants, calling penalties ‘ineffective’

4/23/21 Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer issue fines to undocumented immigrants who have failed to depart the United States, the agency announced Friday, a reversal from the Trump-era policy that threatened immigrants with thousands of dollars in debt to the federal government.
ICE officials said the agency rescinded the two Trump-era orders on the collection of financial penalties after determining the policy to be “ineffective,” and that it intends to cancel fines already issued to undocumented immigrants.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

1990 Recognizing that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling that, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance,

Disability Access in Vaccine Distribution

4/12/21 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are Federal laws that protect qualified persons with disabilities from discrimination based on disability in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance.
HHS is available to assist covered entities in ensuring equitable vaccine distribution. OCR is available to provide technical assistance on Federal civil rights requirements and also investigates complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to access to vaccines. OCR has issued guidance on Federal Legal Standards Prohibiting Disability Discrimination in COVID Vaccination Programs as well as guidance about civil rights protections prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin and ensuring the civil rights of persons with limited English proficiency during COVID-19.

Archive – USCIS Announces Return to Deference Policy

4/28/21 Deference is back! USCIS announced that, effective immediately, it will reinstate its 2004 policy of deferring to prior determinations of eligibility.
Rescinded by the Trump administration, this policy directed officers to “generally defer to prior determinations of eligibility when adjudicating petition extensions involving the same parties and facts as the initial petition.” This means that prior determinations made by USCIS will receive deference unless “there was a material error, material change in circumstances or in eligibility, or new material information” that would have an adverse impact on eligibility.

US COVID-19-Related Update on Travel to the US from India

4/30/21 Beginning Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the United States may well restrict travel from India due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 cases in India.
If an individual has a valid U.S. visa, they should plan to return to the United States before May 4, 2021. As a reminder, all air passengers two years of age and over who are entering the US (including U.S.?citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) must present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 3 calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.
As of today, visa appointments through May 13, 2021, have been cancelled by U.S. consulates in India. If emergency travel to the United States is required and an individual does not have a valid visa, some consulates may be accepting emergency appointments on a limited basis.

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

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

SCC Senior Parcel Tax Exemption Applications

23 of 32 school districts in Santa Clara County offer parcel tax exemptions for seniors and/or homeowners with disabilities, but they are often not publicized well and taxpayers may not know they are eligible for an exemption.
Most exemption applications are around a page long and consist of proof of ownership, proof of residence, and proof of birthdate. For SSI applicants a copy of your Benefits Verification Letter is required. It can be difficult to find information about parcel tax exemptions so we have compiled a list of school district names, phone numbers and links to applying for a parcel tax exemption below.

Agricultural Workers Complete Vaccinations through Partnership with County of Santa Clara, Monterey Mushrooms, United Farm Workers and UFW Foundation

3/31/21 Frontline agricultural workers received second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on César Chavez Day. Approximately 1,000 workers completed their COVID-19 vaccination on Sunday, March 28 and at the César Chavez Day event on March 31.
The vaccination drive is a partnership between the County of Santa Clara, United Farm Workers, Monterey Mushrooms, and the UFW Foundation. There have been numerous vaccination events for farm workers at Monterey Mushrooms and other farms in the area.
Key Words: Pandemic, Coronavirus, undocumented

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

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

South Bay Vietnamese Americans wrestle with COVID-19, lack of information

12/15/20 San Jose alone is home to more than 100,000 Vietnamese American residents as of 2010 and has the largest population of Vietnamese Americans of any city outside of Vietnam. Santa Clara County as a whole has roughly 140,000 residents of Vietnamese ancestry. Yet, little is known about how COVID-19 has affected the Vietnamese American community in Santa Clara County.
The county has not published specific information about the community. Its data portal, which provides information on coronavirus case and death rates for different racial groups, does not include a breakdown of different Asian American subgroups, a category that includes Chinese Americans, Indian Americans and Filipino Americans.

Amid anti-Asian violence, San Jose’s Vietnamese residents embrace COVID-19 vaccines

4/2/21 Despite a fear of anti-Asian violence hanging over their heads, some Vietnamese residents lined up as early as 4 a.m. to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a new mobile clinic this week ” a chance to defend themselves against a virus that’s disproportionately infecting them.
“We initially expected around 700 people but now there’s about 1,000” said Asian American Center of Santa Clara County CEO MyLinh Pham. She organized a mass vaccination event in the heart of the city’s Vietnamese community within the span of a few days after getting 475 doses – but had to find a few hundred more after running out in the early afternoon.

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Update

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

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

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

Key Words: Pandemic

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biden admin to end Trump policy that let DHS deport caregivers for migrant children

3/12/21 The Biden administration said Friday it will end a Trump-era policy that let U.S. border agents collect information about the immigration status of people who came forward to care for unaccompanied migrant children so it could potentially deport them.
The policy, which began in 2018, allowed the Department of Homeland Security to identify and deport those would-be caregivers who were in the country illegally. It meant that immigrant parents who came to the U.S. and then later sent for their children to cross the border faced possible deportation when they tried to pick up their children from Health and Human Services custody.

PG&E power shutoffs could become more frequent

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

How the Bay Area failed Latino residents during the COVID crisis

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

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

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

Mortgage help from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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

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

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

Biden rolls back Trump’s tougher citizenship test

2/22/21 The Biden administration will offer the option for applicants to select the 2008 civics examination. Announced in a Policy Alert on Monday, the civics examination requirement implemented in December 2020 will switch to an earlier version implemented in 2008. The 2020 civic exam featured 128 possible questions on the exam. With Biden’s new order, it will switch to the 100 possible questions seen in the 2008 version.
Some content will be altered as well. The policy alert did not specify what these changes would be.

Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans

2/2/21 …Consistent with our character as a Nation of opportunity and of welcome, it is essential to ensure that our laws and policies encourage full participation by immigrants, including refugees, in our civic life; that immigration processes and other benefits are delivered effectively and efficiently; and that the Federal Government eliminates sources of fear and other barriers that prevent immigrants from accessing government services available to them.

Expedited Licensure Process for Refugees, Asylees, and Holders of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)

Beginning January 1, 2021, individuals in with refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status, who apply for licensure by the Board of Registered Nursing may seek an expedited licensure process. In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide evidence of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package.

Archive – San Jose – Digital Inclusion Partnership

12/31/23 Website gone

2/21 The CA Emerging Technology (CETF) has been funded to work with communities throughout San José to close the digital divide through expanding device access, digital adoption and literacy skills. Digital Inclusion Partnership in collaboration with the CETF is a non-profit organization that provides statewide leadership to accelerate the deployment and adoption of broadband to unserved and underserved communities and populations in California. Key Words: DIGITAL LITERACY

SCC OIR Newsletter: February 2021

Including OIR’s Statement of Solidarity with Our Asian Community Members *** Immigration Update – Biden Administration Actions & Announcements *** Remembering Three Prominent Community Leaders who Passed Away, Their Legacy Lives On. Karita Hummer, Father Bill Leininger and Fred Hirsch ***
Announcements: Public Health orders allow essential volunteers helping nonprofits distribute food necessities. Sign up here to support our community! #SiliconValleyStrong *** Santa Clara County COVID-19 Vaccination: Please visit the Santa Clara County Public Health website to learn more about vaccination distribution in our communities.
Key Words: Pandemic

As COVID-19 relief vote nears, undocumented immigrants struggle with no aid

3/4/21 There are approximately 7 million undocumented immigrants working in the United States, making up 4.4% of the workforce, according to a 2020 Center for American Progress report. Because of their immigration status, they do not qualify for unemployment benefits if they lose their job.
But it’s not just undocumented immigrants themselves who have faced difficulty receiving aid. There are around 16.7 million people in America who have at least one undocumented family member living with them, according to the Center For American Progress. People in these mixed-status families, such as when some are citizens and some are DACA recipients but file taxes with a family member who doesn’t have a Social Security number, also have struggled to receive benefits.

USCIS – Public Charge Update

3/12/21 USCIS is no longer applying the August 2019 Public Charge Final Rule. As a consequence, among other changes, USCIS will apply the public charge inadmissibility statute consistent with the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. In other words, USCIS is not considering an applicant’s receipt of Medicaid (except for long-term institutionalization at the government’s expense), public housing, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination. Multi-language: Spanish

Social Stigma associated with COVID-19

A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma –
Target audience: Government, media and local organisations working on the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The current COVID-19 outbreak has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours against people of certain ethnic backgrounds as well as anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus.

What AB 60 License Holders Need to Know About Real ID

10/2/20 Report from CA Immigration Policy Center (CIPC) – REAL ID is one type of identification that can also function as a driver’s license. The REAL ID Act was a law passed by Congress in 2005. It created a new standard for state-issued driver’s licenses and identity cards to meet federal requirements. REAL ID driver’s licenses and identity cards can be used as ID to board domestic flights within the United States or to enter some federal facilities like federal courthouses and military bases. If you, or someone you know, is an AB60 license holder, this is what you need to know.

How California’s Law Enforcement Agencies Continue Working with ICE

10-8-20 TWO YEARS AFTER THE SIGNING OF
THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT – Following the 2016 presidential election, California passed SB 54 (2017), the California Values Act, (“the Values Act”)”the strongest anti-deportation law in the country. The previous year, California passed AB 2792 (2016), the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds Act (“the TRUTH Act”), ensuring that immigrants in local law enforcement custody know their rights and provide consent before being subject to an interview with an ICE officer. Key Words: RRN, KYR

SCC OIR Newsletter – December 2020

Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations Holiday message in English, Spanish and Tagalog – OIR sends our gratitude and extends solidarity to all who have been supporting emergency response efforts over the last nine months and everyone who has worked tirelessly to support our most vulnerable Black and Brown families in the greatest time of need.
And despite the hardships, we are hopeful that we will continue to reimagine a more just, equitable and humane world. We write to you today with a message of love. We will get through this, together.

SCC OIR Newsletter: November 2020

Post Election Statement – In the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations, we are committed to the following Equity values:
Justice for all.
The pursuit of peace and happiness.
Hard work and reaching our fullest potential by building a system free from domination, oppression, and exploitation.
EVERYONE has the right to exist free from fear, trauma, pain, and suffering.
Immigrants enrich our communities and we should decolonize our views of world regions they come from.
We must move forward, TOGETHER.
The time to do the right things is always now.
We WILL NOT stay silent in the face of injustice.

SCC OIR Newsletter: September 2020

In celebration of Welcoming Week 2020, the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations partnered with Factr’s Footprints Guild to celebrate immigrant artists. Visit the newly created virtual art gallery focused on Creating Home Together.
The Footprints Guild brings together artists and artisans from around the world and helps them in entrepreneurship at the community scale. This micro-enterprise project allows the artists to present their work in the marketplace to encourage self-sufficiency and realization. It showcases the diversity of the community and enhances the cultural education of the greater community.