While comprehensive immigration reform remains a hot-button political issue, the city last week unveiled a new resource to help recently arrived immigrant children and their families connect to government and nonprofit services.
Designed by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, this guide provides information about health insurance and access to care, mental-health clinics, school enrollment, food pantries, homelessness prevention, legal services and more. It will be distributed widely for use by city agencies, schools, nonprofit organizations, and immigrant children and families who may benefit from receiving information and referrals to city services and non-governmental resources.
“We want families to access our local programs that are focused on making sure they become and remain strong and healthy, and have the information and tools they need to succeed,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “Children who come to our city escaping tragedy and despair should not be shortchanged, but rather embraced with stability and safety. New York City is stepping up the nation’s commitment to these children through this guide—along with the presence of our health and education representatives at immigration court and various other initiatives.”
The guide provides information about public-school enrollment, support services for English Language Learners, literacy programs, and after-school and community services. It also includes information about available education programs for adult immigrants who are interested in learning English or continuing their education.
The resource and referral guide also directs families to legal service providers, healthcare clinics, immunization resources and mental health services, and includes information about the Department of Youth and Community Development after-school and community programs.
As de Blasio mentioned, in September, the administration placed representatives from the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at the federal immigration court to address the needs of recently-arrived immigrant children undergoing accelerated deportation proceedings. The Administration for Children’s Services is also now based at the immigration court on a part-time basis to help children under 5 enroll in Head Start early childhood education programs.
Additionally, MOIA, in coordination with DOE, DOHMH, ACS and the Human Resources Administration, is partnering with the New York Immigration Coalition, New York Legal Assistance Group, and the state Office of New Americans to run community-based youth assistance clinics across the city. The clinics, the Mayor’s Office indicated, provide free legal consultations and information and referrals for health and education services available to immigrant children and families, regardless of immigration status.
The next free clinic in Queens will be held on Nov. 23 in Jamaica at the DOE Pathways to Graduation at 162-02 Hillside Ave.
The immigrant resource and referral guide is available in English and Spanish at nyc.gov/immigrantchildren
By Michael V. Cusenza
