California’s agricultural system relies on migrant workers—the Central Valley alone produces a fourth of the nation’s food—but frequent moves can hamper migrant children’s education. The Mini-Corps program helps by turning the experiences that could have been a disadvantage growing up into an advantage for both its tutors, the students they serve and the schools they attend.
California immigration advocates are concerned about two recent actions by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that could make it harder for foreigners fleeing violent situations to get asylum.
Just beyond the reception desks at the two Clinica Romero health center sites in Los Angeles are signs in English and Spanish that say: “All Are Welcome,” as do buttons worn by staff members. That message aims to counter fears that health facilities are prime arrest sites for undocumented immigrants.
Immigrants who are undocumented or have family members in the country illegally have become more wary about seeking medical help, both at clinics and hospitals and also through government programs such as Medi-Cal or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The 1.3 million California pregnant women and children covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program don’t have to worry about losing their health care. Child health advocates expressed relief but said they were concerned about the length of time it took to get to this point.
No one is immune to the impacts of natural disasters. Yet for low-income people who already teeter close to the economic edge, a natural disaster can be difficult to rebound from.
As California’s Latino population ages, promatoras are increasingly seen as a way to boost senior health in a way that honors their culture.
A promotora typically receives specialized training to provide information to residents in the Latino communities in which they live. Promotoras make house calls, go to PTA meetings and offer informal presentations in school classrooms.
Legislation called the California Values Act would prevent state, local and school police from enforcing immigration laws or using their resources to investigate, detain or arrest people for immigration violations.