SUMMIT. Breanne Grace, PhD Benjamin Roth, PhD College of Social Work University of South Carolina

Transcription

1 SUMMIT Breanne Grace, PhD Benjamin Roth, PhD College of Social Work University of South Carolina

2 WELCOME & INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT Welcome and introductions Goal of the Summit Summit structure Report summary Session I: Working Within & Between Session II: Taking Small Steps towards Big Changes Wrap-up

3 SC IMMIGRANTS: DEMOGRAPHICS 35% 32% 30% 25% 20% 15% 21% 16% 10% 5% 0% 4% 5% Mexico Asia Europe Africa 5 year change

4 SC IMMIGRANTS: DEMOGRAPHICS Latin America Asia Europe Mexico 54% 32% 25% 21% 20% 16% 20% year change -12% Source: ACS 2013 and 2008 Note: Percentages represent share of all SC immigrants

5 SC IMMIGRANTS: GEOGRAPHY

6 SC IMMIGRANTS: CHARACTERISTICS Immigrants are making a significant contribution to the local economy and cultural diversity of the places where they live They face similar poverty rates to nonimmigrants However, the barriers they face to getting ahead are significant

7 THE IMMIGRANT SAFETY NET In addition to public benefit programs, local service providers are a large subset of the safety net In contrast to public benefits, these providers deliver services locally Local ethnic organizations often fill gaps in the safety net for immigrant newcomers In places with few (if any) established ethnic organizations, serving the needs of low-income immigrants hinges on the strategies and innovations of local mainstream organizations

8 MEASURING ACCESS Data and methods Sample Access

9 FINDING IMMIGRANT CLIENTS Library Newspaper Internet Public institution Hospitals Advertisements Schools Social service organizations Churches Word of mouth 13% 22% 28% 28% 32% 32% 36% 40% 45% 55%

10 BARRIERS: LANGUAGE Multiple client languages 8% Lack of ESL resources 13% Difficulty hiring bilingual staff Clients cannot read/write 19% 20%

11 SERVICES IMMIGRANTS NEED THAT RESPONDENT ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT PROVIDE Service type % Legal services for immigrants 34% Childcare 32% Employment assistance 30% Mental health counseling 30% Housing assistance 29% ESL classes 27% Substance abuse 26%

12 RESPONDING TO SERVICE GAPS: REFERRALS 41% 35% 11% 7% Always Almost always Sometimes Rarely

13 BARRIERS: GEOGRAPHY 45% of organizations reported that most individuals travel by car to access services Problem Most common barrier for immigrants is not having a car or a driver s license significant in SC because undocumented immigrants are not eligible for driver s licenses Locally available services have restrictions, such as requiring a social security number or offering computer classes only in English Solutions Partnership, particularly referrals (46%) and collaborative outreach (44%) Home-based services

14 MOVING FORWARD In light of our findings, we suggest 2 areas for immediate consideration that serve as the basis for the following 2 sessions: 1. Increase capacity: outreach strategies, program design, and delivery, evaluation, collaboration, and funding. 2. Organizations also need to understand that South Carolina as with any place where immigrants settle is a complex economic, social, and political environment. This environment is dynamic, and organizations are actively shaping it. The question is how they shape it.

15 WORKING WITHIN & BETWEEN DEVELOPING STRATEGIES & PARTNERSHIPS

16 SSC Start: What are things that your organization needs to START doing? [What needs to be addressed?] Stop: What is your organization doing that you need to STOP? [What is no longer working?] Continue: What is your organization doing that you need to CONTINUE? [What is working well?] START! STOP! CONTINUE!

17 TAKING SMALL STEPS TOWARDS BIG CHANGES WELCOMING COMMUNITIES & BUILDING AN AGENDA FOR CHANGE

18 Research Finding: South Carolina Offers a Limited Welcome to Immigrants WHY From your perspective, how do you explain this finding. Because Think a little more deeply here. Break the why into cause and effect. 1 Read Between the Lines Think about the explanation you just offered. What is really happening? 2 3

19 Thank you for participating! Breanne Grace Please complete your evaluation form (green sheet) and leave on the welcome table in the lobby. Ben Roth