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Hispanic/Latino Forum reaches out to community seeking answers to questions on life in U.S., needs of their families
October 3, 2013
Proposed U.S. legislation on immigration, the Affordable Care Act, health care needs and services available in the Midlands and information on education in area schools were among a wide range of topics covered by the second annual Hispanic/Latino Forum in Columbia.
The event, attended by more than 80 people, was sponsored by the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities (IPEHD), the Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies and PASOs, all from the Arnold School of Public Health, and the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center. English- and Spanish-speaking interpreters were available to assist the audience in understanding the presentations and questions asked during the event.
The program, part of the National Hispanic Heritage Month that continues through Oct. 15, began with a presentation on the facts and myths of laws and pending legislation affecting Latinos, including the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act," passed as S.744 by the U.S. Senate and being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Tammy Besherse, a staff attorney with the Appleseed Legal Justice Center, emphasized that the act is not yet a law. "We don't know if there will be one," she said. "But you should be prepared if the act does become law."
Those who will be affected by comprehensive immigration reform should begin gathering documents, such as birth certificates, marriage and divorce records, passports for identification, as well as utility bills, leases, school and work records and hospital records.
Documents showing a continuous presence in the United States will be important, Besherse said.
Sue Berkowitz, a lawyer and executive director of the Appleseed Legal Justice Center, presented information on the Affordable Care Act and what it means for those with varying immigration status.
Documented immigrants will be able to purchase insurance in the marketplace through the Affordable Care Act. Those who do not have documentation at this time can receive care at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers, which have a sliding scale of pay, she said.
Area educators offered information on accessing services at schools and the importance of parent-teacher relationships in helping children succeed.
The forum was begun last year to address the needs of Hispanic/Latino community, which is growing at the fastest rate in the United States, and as an addition to the successful James E. Clyburn Lecture Series on Health Disparities, established by IPEHD, a recognized leader on health disparities research and community outreach.
Dr. Myriam Torres, director of the Arnold School's Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies, said the forum's participants received "accurate information about immigration laws and the Affordable Care Act; additionally, the school staff provided information about resources the schools have for Latino families."
The information is useful to enable families to begin or enhance their efforts to have strong relationships with their children's schools and to know what type of services they have access to, she said.
These types of forums are uncommon in most communities, said Julie Smithwick, director of the PASOs program. "While many areas of concern for the Latino community are also issues in other communities, there are certain particular issues that this community is asking for more information on. Also, by having simultaneous interpretation, community members -- whether their primary language was English or Spanish -- could engage with the speakers in a more natural way."
This type of interaction between the Latino community and area organizations that provide services is needed throughout South Carolina, she said.
"We need to get more information out to the community, in a way that respects their culture and language, such as through community leaders that are ready and willing to be bridges, Smithwick said. "We also need to keep encouraging our state's institutions, such as schools and health organizations, to find ways to reach out to the Latino community and make it easier for them to be involved advocates."
The Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies and PASOs have several programs addressing the needs of the Latino community.
Research about HIV testing among pregnant Latinas and their health providers and a study on the factors related to obesity among children are under way, said Torres.
"Soon, we will start an NIH (National Institutes of Health) project exploring HIV risk factors among Latino men. Some of the other programs that are offered are parenting classes, education to pregnant Latinas, and a leadership development project for Latino leaders," she said.
"In addition, we have been giving workshops to different providers (Home Visiting Teams, Early Childhood Educators, and Maternal and Child Health providers, among others) on how to work with Latino families in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner," she said.
"All of this work is being showcased in local, national and international conferences," Torres said.
