Agenda - 04-04-2017 - 6-a - Support for Local Immigrant and Refugee Population

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2 The Orange County Health Department and Orange County Social Services staff consulted on the most efficient and effective way to address immediate needs. The recommendation to the BOCC is to utilize the Social Justice Fund to provide $79,628 to support the local community- based agencies to expand services immediately to immigrants and refugees. El Centro Hispano provides critical direct support, legal, employment and education services to County residents. El Centro requests $54,168 to expand its immigration legal services. Funding will cover the salary of a part-time Project Coordinator and full-time Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Accredited Representative, as well as project operating costs. The BIA Rep will assist with intake, conduct screenings, and help clients complete forms to be submitted to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Project Coordinator will coordinate the Faith ID program and a new Civics/"No Operator" Education course, as well as conduct community outreach and manage volunteers. The Faith ID program - in collaboration with local law enforcement - offers a picture ID to community members who don't otherwise have access to a form of identification. The Civics/"No Operator" course is an alternative option - at the discretion of the District Attorney - for those individuals ticketed for driving without a license. • El Centro anticipates serving an additional: o 100 clients through immigrant legal services o 150 clients through the Faith ID Program o 100 clients through the Civics/"No Operator" Course Refugee Community Partnership (RCP), a community-based organization that builds networks of support to help families address immediate needs, and establish and work toward long-term goals. RCP is working to address barriers to financial self-sufficiency among diverse refugee communities. In the wake of the recent executive orders, which slashed funding to refugee resettlement agencies, economic hardship is undermining refugees' ability to address financial, social and psychological distress. RCP is partnering with local agencies and businesses to develop pathways to job improvement for local refugees. RCP seeks $14,120 to support staff time for the Program Manager and Executive Director to create an employment support and opportunity service for refugees. Part of their work will include development of a salesforce management system to: 1) efficiently identify and cultivate culturally-appropriate job opportunities, 2) effectively track progress toward employment goals, and 3) map employment channels for refugees to measure impact over time. • Refugee Community Partnership anticipates: o 20 refugees will be connected to improved employment opportunities and an additional 10 refugees will be connected to employment support services. o 10 additional volunteers will be trained as employment navigators o RCP will establish relationships with 20 additional local employers and train 10+ employers on creative, culturally-appropriate solutions to working through language barriers with employees. o RCP will develop a customized management system and construct an employment map to manage employment resources, support services and outcome measures. Refugee Support Center provides legal, education, employment, financial and other resource and referral services. The Refugee Support Center was recently notified that it will need to leave its current donated office space within 6 weeks. The request entails $11,340 to cover the cost of renting space for one year in order to continue and expand operations. This includes space to provide: 1) Pathways to Citizenship classes and immigration legal services provided by a BIA accredited representative on staff, 2) a confidential space for legal and direct service