Our mission is to “strengthen the health and well-being of Latino families and communities”. The immigration statuses of Latino families and communities in Oregon can have a great impact on their health and well-being, especially given the current political and social climate. In early August, the Trump administration announced a final rule that changes the public charge policies used by the government to determine whether or not an individual seeking legal entry into the U.S. or adjustments to residency status (i.e., getting a green card) is denied. Under this new rule that is scheduled to take effect October 15th, 2019, the Trump administration will now consider the use of previously excluded programs (e.g., non-emergency Medicaid for non-pregnant adults, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and several housing programs) in determining if an individual will be a public charge (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation).
As a result, this new rule is sowing fear, uncertainty, and anxiety among many families and communities with immigrant populations, especially for Latino families and communities in Oregon. This has not only led to misconceptions over the new rule and who it applies to but has also prompted some Latinos- both documented and undocumented- to withdraw themselves and their children from public programs that allow them to access vital health and social services, thus negatively affecting the health and well-being of Latino families.
What is being done to reduce the negative impact for familias throughout Oregon?
The state of Oregon has joined a few other states in legally challenging the new rule, stating that it creates unnecessary barriers and unjustly targets immigrants and their families who use public benefit programs.
At the local level, Familias en Acción has partnered with Adelante Mujeres and other non-profits throughout Oregon to host a community forum in Spanish that is catered towards the Latino community, discuss the changes to public charge and provide the appropriate resources and general information. This is also being done to help reduce fears and confusion surrounding the issue, mitigate the negative social and health impacts on familias, and strengthen the well-being of familias.
What can you do as an individual or as an organization?
- Please download and share the flyer with information for the community forum/foro comunitario in your communities! We want this to reach as many people as possible in the Latino communities throughout Oregon:
- Read & share some helpful resources:
- Public charge fact sheet
- Public charge rule and its impact on Oregon fact sheet
- Core community messages for public charge/Mensajes principales de la comunidad sobre la carga pública:
- Rights and protecting your health/Derechos y protegiendo su salud:
