A Collaborative Response to Immigrant Issues in Central Texas

A COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE TO IMMIGRANT ISSUES IN CENTRAL TEXAS

CAN COUNCIL Presentation – March 17, 2014

Angela-Jo Touza-Medina, M.A, LL.M., [email protected] 512.736.1505

Prepared by

Brief History and Context

History First iteration of ISNA in 2003 as a quarterly

networking/educational group Travis County HHS/VS staff (Research & Planning)

stewarded processes to: Conduct the Immigrant Assessment, 2006-2007 Present findings at a Community Forum, June 2007 Provided ongoing staff support to ISNA, 2007- 2012 Revise the Immigrant Assessment, 2010

Building on the Assessment and its findings, ISNA took the lead as a planning and action body around immigrant issues

Our Mission and Vision

Mission

ISNA is a working group of diverse community stakeholders and immigrant service providers operating together to coordinate efforts, increase public awareness, and inform policy, in order to better serve the immigrant community.

Vision

ISNA promotes the success and well-being of immigrants in order to secure the long-term prosperity of the entire community.

Our Values Platform

We share information with each other, and educate and outreach to the community at large

We come together in order to have a stronger, broader voice on immigrant issues

We maintain ISNA as a neutral, non-political arena where stakeholders can convene in order to work towards local solutions

We engage and remain in dialogue with partners from all issue areas and sectors

We support one another in our respective work to care for the immigrant community

We respect the dignity and humanity of all immigrants, regardless of status

Our Role in the Community

Neutral Convener A place where all parties can engage in a dialogue

Non-Political Immigrant well-being and community prosperity as a

framework Inclusive Membership and Scope

Any person or organization who embraces the values platform has a right to participate

A forum to address a broad range of immigrant issues

Our Membership

Member Agencies American Gateways* Any Baby Can Austin Community College Austin Free-Net Austin Police Department, Victim

Services Austin Police Department, Office of

Community Liaison Austin Public Library AVANCE Austin Caritas of Austin Casa Marianella English at Work*

*Denotes an agency or group represented on the Steering Committee in 2013.

Foundation Communities / Community Tax Centers*

Holy Word Lutheran Church* The Law Offices of Thomas Esparza, Jr. Literacy Coalition of Central Texas SafePlace Saheli St. Helen Catholic Church* Travis County Health and Human

Services & Veterans Service Travis County Health and Human

Services, Research and Planning Division Travis County Sheriff’s Office Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Victim

Services And individual volunteers*

Our Membership, cont.

Other Contributors City of Austin Commission on

Immigrant Affairs City of Austin Health and Human

Services Department Compass Bank Consulate General of Mexico Goodwill Industries of Central

Texas Grass Roots Leadership The Police Monitor Refugee Services of Central Texas Texas Civil Rights Project Texas Council on Family Violence Texas Rio Grade Legal Aid U.S. Citizenship & Immigration

Service Workers Defense Project/Proyecto

Defensa Laboral (PDL) And individual volunteers

Immigrant Realities

Overarching Immigrant Challenges

Immigration Status, mixed status families, legal services and the fear of Deportation Fear/distrust of service providers Fear/distrust of the criminal justice system Lack of knowledge of immigrant rights and fear to assert them and of retaliation Lack of knowledge of services available Financial constraints In cases of Domestic Violence: Dependence on abuser, fear of retaliation Transportation: This extends beyond inaccessible public transportation systems and

inefficiencies therein to include the inability to obtain a Driver’s License which results in: Difficulty accessing services Difficulty obtaining housing without co-signers Difficulty with transportation/dependency on others Barriers to establishing accounts with utility providers

Lack of support systems, family separation Acculturation: Adjusting to New Life and Culture

Immigrants and the Work Force

Difficulty obtaining Work Authorization – EAD – if they do have it upon arrival

Credentials and licensure- Recertification and having foreign credentials acknowledged is difficult. Very little information about this is available and in cases where it is available the process may be expensive, timely and arduous.

Health and Safety of work environments (day laborers, etc) Limited English and Job Skills Discrimination and Infringement of worker rights. Low wages and Limited access to higher paying

employment opportunities that allow for greater mobility out of ethnic labor markets.

Immigrants and Education

In Schools: New immigrants face unrealistic expectations for English acquisition. Learners are

expected to reach higher standards of academic English proficiency with fewer resources available to them to help achieve basic proficiency.

Schools with high numbers of low ELL students tend to serve more economically disadvantaged populations.

Graduation rates for LEP students are lower than those of other special student populations

Capacity Issues : Lack of culturally sensitive/linguistically appropriate educational system and professional training for staff to meet the needs of students, particularly secondary school students, of diverse cultural background

Parental Involvement: Influenced by Language, socio-economic status and educational attainment Is limited when parent English proficiency is low. This is further negatively

impacted by inconvenient class scheduling times for and unavailable transportation to adult ESL participation

Transportation issues also hinder parent participation in school life

Immigrants and Poverty

On average immigrants make slightly lower earnings that native born US. In Travis County immigrants are heavily represented among lower income groups.

Immigrants and Housing

The Reality Affordable rental housing and the limited

availability thereof is a major challenge in Austin’s expensive housing market

Non-citizens have a higher rate of overcrowding and housing cost burden

Immigrant renters in Travis County suffer from general disinformation or misinformation on tenants’ rights. Abusive or negligent management practices are common. This includes the failure to address safety hazards or public health concerns.

Immigrants and Housing

Additional Barriers Immigrants have relatively lower incomes and limited assets

and more than twice as likely to have no reported income Immigrants have lower rates of home ownership because they

are at greater risk of poverty due to lack of education, job training, and employment opportunities

Language barriers limit the information available about housing, savings and mortgage opportunities

Cultural differences also account for variations in styles of negotiation, decision-making and discussing finances which can also affect the home buying process

Lack of relationships with financial institutions, make immigrants vulnerable to predatory lending and other abusive practices

Immigrants and the Safety Net

Immigrants are more likely to live in poverty regardless of the household composition

For many immigrants the safety net is weakened due to more restrictive eligibility requirements, particularly for federal means-tested public health benefits which depend on: Program requirements Immigrant status, and date of entry, Applicability of exceptions/exemptions Income and resources of sponsors if applicable Additional state and federal criteria.

Eligible low income children, the citizen-children of non-citizen parents receive lower rates of public assistance than their native born counterparts due to fear or confusion that often act as deterrents.

Immigrants and Healthcare The Reality

Immigrants are more likely to lack health insurance due to: Workforce trends: Immigrants, in particular

undocumented immigrants, are less likely to hold jobs with employment based coverage

Eligibility for public insurance. Immigrants often misunderstand MAP and immigrant children are likely to lack insurance. In mixed-status families, parents are often unaware of child eligibility.

Personal characteristics: Underinsurance is more common among 18-24 old foreign born.

Place of origin: in Central Texas, Central Americans have the higher rates of un-insurance,

Immigrants and Healthcare The Reality

Immigrants are less likely to access healthcare services, and when they do it is through the safety net.

Immigrant health declines with acculturation Language barriers, cultural differences, and

provider cultural competence affect: Access to healthcare The quality of the care and treatment received Immigrant ability to navigate the healthcare

system

Immigrants and Healthcare Challenges

Cost of healthcare/Insurance coverage and limited access to prescription drugs due to financial constraints

Limited capacity of safety net providers Transportation to medical services

Immigrants and Healthcare:Mental Health Challenges

Mental health stressors and trauma: Culture of origin stigmas or traumas around

reporting mental health issues Mental health needs of immigrant patients may

be misdiagnosed or undiagnosed by practitioners Cultures differ on what constitutes mental distress Mental health assessment tools may not me

culturally sensitive to accurately determine culturally variations of mental health needs

Immigrants and the Criminal Justice System

Lack of knowledge about the criminal justice system results in fear

Family violence is an issue of concern, as immigrant victims of family violence many have unique barriers to leaving their abusers including: Cultural norms and values Lack of information regarding resources Absence of extended family and other social support

systems

Immigrants and the need for Legal Services

Access to legal services is limited by funding sources, regulatory barriers that may prohibit service provision to undocumented immigrants

Affordability and cultural appropriateness of legal services in the areas of immigration, family, criminal and employment law

Sources

A Community Profile: An Updated Demographic Profile of Immigrants in Travis County (2010)

Service Capacity Survey Results (2011) 2006-2007 Travis County Immigrant Assessment,

Travis County Research and Planning Division

Our Current Work

Immigrant Services Resource Directory

Product: A directory of services needed by immigrants, including healthcare, English language instruction, basic needs, and more.

Purpose: This referral resource will help effectively resettle immigrants in a respectful, efficient way by allowing them to gain access to appropriate, critical services.

Uses: Intended for case workers and service providers to improve information and referral.

Access: Completed in January 2010 and available for download on the ISNA website.

Family Safety Planning Toolkit

Product: A workbook with tools and worksheets addressing “Know Your Rights” information, family and children’s safety (including communication, guardianship, and medical planning), financial and legal planning, etc.

Purpose: To educate immigrant residents about their rights, and to assist individuals and families with preparing an emergency plan for their household.

Uses: Providers working with immigrants can use the toolkit to help them plan for their families’ well-being. Providers can also distribute materials to clients.

Access: Completed in April 2010 and available for download on the ISNA website

Immigrant Public Safety Training

Also known as RISE: Refugee and Immigrant Safety Education Program by Austin Police Department

Product: A public safety training, being developed in partnership between ISNA and the Austin Police Department

Purpose: To increase immigrants’ awareness of U.S. laws and their understanding of their rights and responsibilities as Austin residents

Uses: Interactive training conducted by APD officers and cadets, within the agency setting, to increase public safety knowledge and build trust in law enforcement

Educational Roundtables

Legislative Monitoring Policy analyst guest speakers from Texas Council on

Family Violence and American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants, Public Safety and Local Law

Enforcement Guest Speakers from APD (Chief of Police) and TCSO

(Lieutenant Day Watch East) Federal Enforcement under a New Administration

Guest speakers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (San Antonio Field Office Director) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Area Director)

Welcoming Initiative – (inactive)

Product: A toolkit for speaking ambassadors Purpose: To change public dialogue and opinion

about immigrants in Austin through public education

Uses: Training and presentations at schools, churches, civic organizations, etc.

Legal Services Workgroup (inactive)

Products: A networked group of legal service providers in Austin and

San Antonio who meet every 2-3 months A Capacity Inventory of their U, T, and VAWA cases,

updated quarterly and posted online Purpose: Coordination and communication on a regional

level will enable: Better readiness to respond to emerging community needs Better preparedness for potential federal policy changes

New ISNA Website

http://isnaustin.wordpress.com/

Download all of the products discussed today

Looking to the Future …

2014 Projects and Plans

Continue outreach/distribution of completed publications

Continue the RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Safety Education ) program

Continue to monitor emerging issues (e.g. 2015 Legislative Session) and respond to community needs as they arise

Continue Quarterly educational roundtables Collaborate with the Austin Commission on

Immigrant Affairs , Health and Human Services and Economic Development Department on defining Austin’s vision as a Welcoming City

Key “Take Home” Messages

Immigrants are a key population in the City of Austin/ Travis County

ISNA has been and continues to be a good investment – a platform to build on

Travis County’s support was crucial in the past; ISNA is now actively seeking additional and diverse partnerships to sustain its institutional structure and work

We are a resource to you for knowledge, expertise and connection to the immigrant community

Attend our quarterly meetings. Our next meeting: Date: April 9th, 2014 10:30-12PM Location:

Terrazas Public Library

1105 E. Cesar Chavez St.

Austin, TX, 78702

Visit the ISNA website: http://isnaustin.wordpress.com/

Our publications and tools are available online, including the 2010 Immigrant Community Profile.

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