Georgia Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders

Transcription

1 Agenda Georgia Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders Quarterly Meeting March 5 th, 2009, 9:00 12:00 am 1. Welcome and overview: BryAnn Chen & Ellen Beattie 2. State Refugee Coordinator Report Michael Singleton 3. Joint Report from Resettlement Agencies Kay Trendell 4. Touch the Future program presentation Mike Rosenbleeth 5. Confirmation & Updates from Working Groups: Michael Singleton Confirm members, next meeting date, and any Updates or recommendations Community Based Recipients George Casper Refugee Community Systems Yvette Anderson. Refugee Funding Enhancement Michael Singleton State Refugee Program Workgroup Adelia Roseboro Oversight Workgroup Michael Singleton 6. Strategies for supporting refugees during economic crisis BryAnn Chen & Ellen Beattie Testimonials: employment, cash assistance, housing Types of solutions: groups brainstorm Breakout groups: sharing best practices, resources Report back to plenary from working groups & next steps 7. Announcements (Limited to 2 minutes max)

2 Minutes Meeting of Georgia Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders March 5 th, 2009 Meeting was called to order at 9:10 by Michael Singleton Agenda was presented by Ellen Beattie and BryAnn Chen. 1. Report from the State Refugee Coordinator (Acting) -Michael Singleton ORR- 11 due in Jan and was submitted Trimester report was completed and submitted 2-09 Profile of refugee (arrivals or population?) in all 50 states available at ORR Website RSIG (Refugee School Impact Grant) submitted to DHR commissioner (3/15) and will be sent out next week. Thank you to Yvette Anderson and RSIG team. Semi annual due 3-15 as well. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides domestic violence prevention and intervention services. Contract monitoring will begin this month and continue over the next few months. Beginning work on contracts for next year with new procedure; first ones up are RSIG in August, followed by SSG and TAG grants Stimulus funds we re getting some of the money: no increase in SSG or TAG seen. Community Services Block Grant-$26 million funneled to all community action organizations. Michael and his staff will meet with PCA and Fulton CA. Food Stamp Program Ed & training suspended for next 12 mos, possibly longer Medicaid program for children expanded. Unemployment benefits were increased by $25 per week. Also, anyone who has lost his/her job may apply for Medicaid. TANF- work requirements have been relaxed and expanded over 4-5 yr limit. In child care- they are working closely w/csbg people, so when 1 form of childcare stops, the other can pick up. Allen Shaklan asked question re: letter concerning ORR wanting to use GA for a project monitoring resettlement of refugee agencies in GA. Michael indicated that he received 4 affirmative responses and did not consider this significant in determining enough responses, as total number of Coalition members is 65 but will extend deadline for acceptance of responses from Coalition members. Sandye Mullins stated that it would be beneficial, because the study would point out what is needed and perhaps point out possible sources of funding. Allen suggested that the letter be redistributed. Action item: Michael will the letter again and requested that Coalition members respond by next Thurs., March 12. ORR requires a response from the state by March 18. Michael has already drafted a letter, if needed. Question: Is there an expectation that no more than 1 staff from each organization respond to this letter? Yes.

3 2. Joint VOLAG report- Kay Trendell See attached report Question from Brian Burt: regarding refugees having to re-apply for GA DL every 12 mos. Joe Kernan indefinite status definition was misinterpreted by the state, and fed s will verify w/ SAVE unit. DDS will change interval regulation and will enforce law at 36 months. Advocacy/policy opportunity Allen Shaklan, pointed out that SB57 calls for temporary licenses after 6 years must take a written test, which must be taken in English. The best way to opposed this bill is by writing your legislator, whose info can be found at VOTESMART.org Brian Burt: There have been significant challenges in employment which is causing a financial strain on resettlement agencies and affecting outcomes. ORR is seeing a drop in employment outcomes, and an increase in the cost of placing a client on a job. Kay Trendell: Outmigration of Iraqi s is occurring. If this becomes an issue, it won t look good for the VOLAGS Catholic Charities: Decrease in match grant by 5% 3. State Refugee Health Coordinator s Report- Monica Vargas During 2008, 2,663 arrivals and 90% have been screened. Refugees w/ varcella (chicken pox) are receiving treatment prior to arriving. A doctor from Harvard did a study to identify how many health care Iraqi professionals entering US and how many are serving the community. 4. Community Presentation: Touch the Future- Mike Rosenbleeth Interested in bringing technology to the refugee community. Want to start a pilot program with 5 refugees. Costs can be paid through scholarships or other funding. Would like to train trainers. 5. Work Groups Organization Oversight group-michael Singleton- their decisions will be binding. Refugee funding enhancement Michael Singleton- agency directors from contracting agencies. They will make decisions on the money. It will be a limited and select group. By next meeting of Ref funding enhancement wk group will have information on total funding dollars by April. Group may be expanded beyond organizations holding a DHR based contract. Refugee Community Systems-Yvette Anderson (17 persons committed) First meeting March 17 from 2:30-4:30-location TBD; leader and secretary will be selected during first meeting

4 Community based Recipients-George Casper (1 people committed) Leader: McKenzie Wren, will meet in April date and location TBD State Refugee Program- Adelia Roseboro (13 people committed) Leader: Paedia Mixon, Recorder: Debora Furce, First meeting Tuesday, 3/31 at 9:00am at RRISA. 6. Featured Discussion Topic: Refugees and the Economic Downturn 6.1. Community perspective: See attached letter from Bhutanese community. Summary: ESL for illiterate refugees is a challenge, want to build community 6.2 Employment Challenges: Per Brian Burt- increasingly difficult to place refugees in Match grant program within 120 days; transportation is an issue, when job placements are not on MARTA line. People who have been here and lost jobs, refugees who are unskilled and have low ESL levels have also lost their jobs, ex: Bantu, Burmese Per Leanne Rubenstein: Staffing agencies only yielding jobs with low hours, which are far away. For clients encountering this issue, applying for Food stamps is requiring intervention by VOLAG personnel to ensure clients qualify for services. Possible Solution: RWN has Micro business loans Kay Trendell suggested we invite state and federal organizations to attend Coalition meetings 6.3 Public Benefits perspective Per Sokhan Ket Hiring Burmese (Karen/Chin speaker) but will accept candidates who speak at least one of these languages. Medicaid policy in GA geared towards family coverage, has yet to see enhancement to cover single individuals. Ref. Cash Asst. 13% increase- which comes from ORR? TANF $25 additional in monthly allotment coming in April, but depends on what comes from Fed s. TANF has not changed since Concerns: As people find themselves on cash assistance longer, they are transferred from Match grant to Ref Cash Asst 3-4 months later. ESL attendance numbers are very low, so most likely that those individuals will not receive checks at least for the 1st month. Request: is that refugee clients are informed about this issue. o Quest: How would VOLAG s know client attendance? o DeKalb tech s attendance to some of the VOLAG s upon request and will have records open for inspection in the interim. Sokhan stated that if people do not have access to transportation, they are exempted from ESL requirements??

5 Possible solution This issue may be one to be discussed by Work group 1- Refugee Community Systems EBT Cards getting lost in the mail seems to be under control. Thank you to VOLAG s for their help with this issue. Per Ellen: Higher number of people depending on Cash Assistance, it s being scrutinized because after 4 mos. More likely that people may be spending more time looking for employment. Per Brian Burt: some employers are offering jobs utilizing questionable employment practices Housing Perspective: Leanne VOLAG s have limited funds to help resettle each family Possible solution: Partnership for Community Action (emergency housing assistance) we provide the diversity that community agencies are looking for. HUD- is this a partnership that we could pursue through the Coalition 6.5 Health & Mental Health Per McKenzie Wren: ICS counselor and CTS staff beginning to see hunger among families. Possible solution:a volunteer at ICS goes to State Farmer s market 1,000 pounds of food for $130-$160. Trying to find ways of mobilizing communities around this effort. Per Dr. Kathleen Connors: increase in anxiety, hopelessness, and sense of defeat due to unavailability of jobs and despair over future. Dr. Kira: Survivor mode has taken over discussions Possible solution: Mental Health support is around brainstorming, problem solving and becoming assertive; teaching skills and cooperation with other refugee organizations. Discussed how approaching solutions with Iraqi and Bhutanese communities. Per Ellen- Another issue is that refugee service personnel are also being affected as a result of dealing with complex cases and high volume. Possible solution per Michael : Community Services Block Grant ($26 million) craft a more meaningful program can come up with design for new program to help meet needs of refugees.- has funding opportunities for emergency housing and help with rent. The coalition will be looking into this. Per Paedia: PCA offers1 time rent assistance and client must be employed. This is helpful for individuals who have lost a job and are in a temporary situation. Need to find funds to address the gap between income and rent utilities costs. Michael asked re: leveraging training programs, especially around computers.

6 Possible Solutions: Per Leanne; Found that programs such as certified nursing assistant helpful. Perhaps we can look at Janitorial, driver s food service, construction training programs Paedia- Simplifying process of enrollment into these programs may help. Michael- May need to train/educate agencies to refugee needs and perhaps hiring multi-cultural staff Workforce Investment flow into refugee service providers Joan Foderingham- Goodwill industries- have programs great for people who have disabilities. Also have a business program for women-may modify to serve refugee women. These agencies also have employment specialists. Dr. Kira- higher mental health issues in refugee children- should try to get grants to help that group. Satyam Resource which provides help with paying bills and rent for families experiencing domestic violence: or HAVEN Diane Hunter would like to have flyers on different programs. Suzanne suggested there be a website or goggle group started to house this type of information 7. Announcement Janet Foderingham DBOH intern developed materials for children on HIV and obesity. Flyers distributed. IRC has Tax Preparation Workshops for refugee clients. Next GA Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders meeting: Thursday, April 30th