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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHSAC Forum Report 091599ne f♦ f� f 1 !� l� i 1 i� ►� Developing Trust and Improving Access to 5ervice for the Hi5panlc/Latino Community in Orange County Prepared by Human Services Advisory Commission Prepared for Orange County Board of Commissioners and foi2im participants 1999 FbRUM RETORT I)ACKGKOUND The purpose of the 1999 Human Services Advisory Commission (HSAC) forum is best expressed by its title, "Building'Confianza': Developing Trust and Improving Access to Service for the Hispanic/Latino Community in Orange County." "Confianza," a Spanish word, means to have confidence in, or to be familiar with someone or something. Language and access basTiers, and insufficient knowledge of available resources combine to leave the community underserved. Local public and non - profit human services providers need new tools to effectively assist the rapidly expanding I[ spanic/Latino community. The HSAC also assesses and evaluates information from each year's forum on behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Close to 130 government employees, human services providers, and community leaders attended the forum, despite the approach of Hurricane Floyd on September 15. OVr.KVIr-W The various participants of "Building'Confianza"' were welcomed by Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs. He stressed the necessity for the county to assess and address the needs of the Hispanic/Latino community including such steps as providing bilingual staff and changing the county's hiring policies. Martha OlayarCrowley, Chao of the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, made the first presentation of the morning session on the demographics of the Hispanic/Latino community in the United States, North Carolina, and Orange County. She initially described the importance of the Hispanic/Latino community to North Carolina. The state imports farm labor in particular from Mexico, and Central and South America to support its number one industry: agriculture. Although family is the core of the Hispanic/Latino community and many of the new residents of North Carolina moved in order to provide a better life for their families, much of the population continues to "In North Carolina, Latinos generally fall into four socio- economic subgroups: 1. Military personnel 2. Professionals, affiliated with major corporations and universities. 3. Craftsmen or skilled tradesmen who work in the construction, furniture manufacturing, and food industries. 4. Migrant farmworkers who come to work in agriculture." -from handout, "Latino Population in North Carolina " be very poor. The community continues to have the lowest rates of health insurance and home ownership while paying high rent for substandard housing. 1 999 NSAC rorum Table 1. Hispanic/Latino Population Growth At 40.30L, the growth of the Hispanic Latino population in the U.S. is four times the average. By 2050, Hispanic/Latinos are expected to comprise 24.5% of the total U.S. population. Olaya- Crowley also described the great diversity amongst members of Hispanic Latino community. For example, the racial make -up includes white, Indian, and black. Spanish is a fluid language that acquires many regional characteristics. Latinos in the United States are a very young population: 35.8% are estimated to be under age 18. Although 1 in 4 Latinos lives in poverty, their collective buying power in North Carolina approached $1.4 billion in 1996. Ultimately, Latinos need schools, housing, and work, but they also need time for children and opportunities to rest and play. Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of Olaya- Crowley's presentation was the rate of growth of the Hispanic/Latino population. North Carolina is attractive due to plentiful jobs and a relatively low cost of living. John Herrara, Vice President of Hispanic/Latino Affairs for the Self Help Credit Union, addressed cultural issues during the second presentation of the morning session. He began by challenging service providers and county officials in the audience about how their disaster plans (in regard to Floyd) included the Hispanic/Latino community. Herrara then described many cultural differences that may impact on the delivery of human services. Hispanic/Latino people are oriented towards personal relationships and value the open expression of emotions. They tend to come from hierarchical family -based societies that are divided by class. In contrast, North American society tends to value individuality and rationality and places confidence in structured systems. Discrimination is more likely to be based on race. Common Mistakes Made by Orange County Service Providers 1. Anger over missed or delayed appointments. 2. Mistak=es with last names. 3. Assumption that Spanish conversations are about the service provider. 4. Anger over lack of English skills. 5. Rushing personal questions before building up a relationship. 6. Expecting quick medical decisions to be without f amily guidance. 7. Using children as interpreters (this warps family relationships). 2 Time Span Change Hispanic/Latmo Population in NC 1980 1996 +139.8% Hispanic/Latino School Enrollment 1990 -91 1997 -98 +285.6% in Orange County At 40.30L, the growth of the Hispanic Latino population in the U.S. is four times the average. By 2050, Hispanic/Latinos are expected to comprise 24.5% of the total U.S. population. Olaya- Crowley also described the great diversity amongst members of Hispanic Latino community. For example, the racial make -up includes white, Indian, and black. Spanish is a fluid language that acquires many regional characteristics. Latinos in the United States are a very young population: 35.8% are estimated to be under age 18. Although 1 in 4 Latinos lives in poverty, their collective buying power in North Carolina approached $1.4 billion in 1996. Ultimately, Latinos need schools, housing, and work, but they also need time for children and opportunities to rest and play. Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of Olaya- Crowley's presentation was the rate of growth of the Hispanic/Latino population. North Carolina is attractive due to plentiful jobs and a relatively low cost of living. John Herrara, Vice President of Hispanic/Latino Affairs for the Self Help Credit Union, addressed cultural issues during the second presentation of the morning session. He began by challenging service providers and county officials in the audience about how their disaster plans (in regard to Floyd) included the Hispanic/Latino community. Herrara then described many cultural differences that may impact on the delivery of human services. Hispanic/Latino people are oriented towards personal relationships and value the open expression of emotions. They tend to come from hierarchical family -based societies that are divided by class. In contrast, North American society tends to value individuality and rationality and places confidence in structured systems. Discrimination is more likely to be based on race. Common Mistakes Made by Orange County Service Providers 1. Anger over missed or delayed appointments. 2. Mistak=es with last names. 3. Assumption that Spanish conversations are about the service provider. 4. Anger over lack of English skills. 5. Rushing personal questions before building up a relationship. 6. Expecting quick medical decisions to be without f amily guidance. 7. Using children as interpreters (this warps family relationships). 2 F)uilding "Con ianza" These cultural differences provide unique challenges for service providers. Latinos feel most comfortable within the context of personal relationships. The authority of the Catholic ( Church is also very important to most Hispanic/Latinos. Consideration must be shown for the varied backgrounds of recent immigrants to this area. Some may have come from regions with inefficient or repressive governments and police forces. Others may fear the authorities because of uncertain legal immigration status. It is essential not to stereotype: individuals have highly varying degrees of education and social class. Perhaps most importantly, communication in Spanish is crucial to reach out to the Hispanic/Latino community. �.,.. ., . ..... ..r. .�_s._ "While local health departments may be taking the br -ant of the Hispanic/Latino influx, ... Hospitals — particularly in rural areas — are seeing their emergency rooms iniuldated with relative newcomers who can't speak English." from handout "Failure to Communicate?" bi, Joanne Scharer Community activist Mamicio Castro facilitated spoken testimonies by actual residents of Orange County in a new forum segment. Guadelupe Ariza spoke through an interpreter about the difficulties involved in obtaining health care from English - speaking medical professional. She also noted differences in the official treatment of children born within and outside the United States. Ana Valencia also spoke through an interpreter about her experiences trying to register her child for school. Castro noted that not only bilingual teachers are needed but also nurses, family specialists, counselors, and psychologists. Children are not only facing a new language but also a new culture and environment. Adults also have educational needs, especially in the area of English as a Second Language (ESL). Perhaps the most poignant moment of the forum came as fourth-grader Elizabeth Terrazes read a description of her educational experiences in both English and Spanish. Before learning English, she felt embarrassed and isolated. She received a resounding ovation from the audience. Demetrio Villaneuva discussed the difficulties of working in Orange County while trying to procure childcare. The cost of childcare was very high and transportation was a big issue. Bus schedules with regular, reduced, and summer services were "very scary." He stressed the importance of providing information in accessibile places to new residents during "Most common complaints from Latino Nvorkers: 1. Failure of employers to pay for work performed. 2. Compensation such as medical expenses and lost wages in not provided for j ob- related in j iuries. 3. Overtime not provided for ho-ars worked over 40 a week. 4. Fail-Lire of employers to pay minimlun wage." — Matulcio Castro their first few weeks in the area. Castro talked about the dangers of the workplace for many Hispanic/Latino employees. They are disproportionately more likely to be injured or killed on the job than whites or African Americans. Many use equipment or chemicals they are not trained 5 i 999 NSAC rorum for. Others are paid nominal wages for 12 -hour shifts. These are the people doing lawns, and building office buildings: no one can claim to be unaffected. The morning session concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Annette Moore, Director of Orange County Human Rights and Relations Department Juan Echeverfia with the Orange County school system spoke about the barriers migrant children face in the classroom Children who achieve academic success often face a "glass ceiling" as they try to finance a college education without financial aid resources or proper documentation. Teresa Smith described how the Child Care Services Association has made an effort to provide documentation in Spanish and translation services. Essentially, Latino/Hispanic parents face similar problems to other Orange County groups: affordability of childcare, a need for agency services outside of normal working hours, and transportation. Judge Alonzo Coleman spoke about the rewards of learning Spanish from his own and his wife's experience. Resources are readily available in Orange County for service providers wishing to expand their Spanish skills. John Herrara talked once again about housing issues. The all- too - scarce affordable rental housing units in good condition are inaccessible to many Hispanic/Latinos because of their inability to pass credit checks. Tenants of sub - standard housing often do not have the tools -i.e., leases in Spanish -or may be afraid to legally confront landlords. Others face outright discrimination. Home ownership is problematic because many Hispanic/Latinos lack a credit history or may find the lengthy process inaccessible because banks don't provide Spanish - speaking staff. f)UILDING `CONI=IANZA' STRATLGIrS Forum participants separated into five working lunch sessions to begin the afternoon session. Each group concentrated on improving access to services for the Hispanic/Latino Community. Housing Facilitator: Sue Russell ➢ Hire a Latino Coordinator to work in Housing Education and transportation ➢ Provide more safe and affordable housing ➢ Provide adequate transportation for all working people in the entire county :9 Health Services Facilitator: Debbie Kinert ➢ Provide language and cultural education/training ➢ Hire bi- lingual/bicultural staff ➢ Offer outreach services in the communities after hours ➢ Allot time for coordinating county and city services ➢ Provide translators who are trained in health care and health care terminology E)ui)ding "Confianza" Child Care Facilitator: Dee Gamble ➢ Provide materials in Spanish/English in medical offices, public libraries, childcare centers (about childcare information) employers, housing and businesses. ➢ Fund scholarships /subsides for families to access child care ➢ Locate childcare in areas most needed such as near home and work where families have close access. Education Facilitator. Juan Echeverria ➢ Flue more bilingual staff ➢ Provide information in Spanish ➢ Create Spanish language telephone line or recording. Court System Facilitator: Donald Thompson ➢ Interpreter for the court system ➢ Make forms and material available in Spanish and English. Ask administrator's office of the state to provide leadership. ➢ Have central point in the courthouse to provide reference information for Hispanic/Latinos. CONCLUSION The rapidly- expanding Hispanic/Latino population of Orange County requires access to the same basic services that all other residents need: healthcare, childcare, housing, education and fair treatment by the courts. The first barrier to be overcome is language - communication is obviously the key. Cultural differences must also be taken into careful consideration. Ultimately, this vibrant community has much to offer Orange County— not only because the county has a low unemployment rate— but through its rich heritage. The continued effort to build "confianza' by service providers and the HispaniclLatino community will benefit everyone. 5