The National Migrant Education Hotline is closing in on completing its third year of operation. We are pleased to report that, in large part due to many folks taking care of business, and the distribution of promotional materials throughout the country, the number of calls received has increased by 30% each year.
Since April of 1996, more than 22,000 calls have been made to the Hotline, broken out by the following categories:
While the number of calls is impressive, most important of all is that hotline callers receive the help they need - either by referrals to appropriate service agencies or through interstate/interagency collaboration. This newsletter highlights some very practical ways to leverage resources for migrant farmworkers and their families. We hope that you discover some techniques new to you, and will feel free to share other coordination tips with us for future publication.
Because they may have moved and not have begun work, some farmworkers do not have enough money for a rental deposit. Options available are to ask the landlord to:
1) reduce the amount of the deposit;
2) accept a deposit when the renter receives their first paycheck; or
3) spread the deposit out over the course of several payments.
If a family receives an eviction notice, some social service agencies will provide emergency rent money when shown the eviction notice.
Utility Bills
If a migrant family gets a notice of intent to disconnect service, it is very important to get help before their service gets shut off. Many utility companies have installment payment programs for folks who fall behind, but most often, those who get disconnected are not eligible.
Louisville, Kentucky
A migrant mother called the Hotline and said she was told by school personnel that she could not register her 12 year old daughter in school due to her lack of documentation proving her immigration status. A Jefferson County Migrant Project worker interceded on behalf of the mother and daughter, and the daughter was enrolled in school.
Kingsville, Texas
Migrant parents with a five year old asthmatic son had their electric service disconnected due to their inability to make payments. They contacted the Hotline and funds were acquired from the Harvest of Hope Foundation to restore electric service.
Hope, Arkansas
Two migrant men in search of transportation to a job site in Fort Meyers, Florida called the Hotline. Through the assistance of "Hope and Action", an agency that helps transient individuals in Hope, Arkansas, the men were given bus tickets to Fort Meyers.
Caldwell, Idaho
Migrant parents with six children called the Hotline in search of housing and a school to enroll their children. With the help of the local migrant education program, the children were enrolled in school and the family was helped with their housing situation.
Ten states are taking part in a pilot launch
of a toll-free hotline that offers the latest information on each
state's Children's Health Insurance Program (primarily for uninsured
children). Participating states are Colorado, Delaware, Idaho,
Indiana, Massachussetts, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
and Utah. For more information, call 877-KIDS-NOW.
The distribution of promotional materials helps migrant families become aware of the Hotline. At this moment, ESCORT has the following bi-lingual (English-Spanish) items available: brochures, keyrings, rulers, business cards, Migrant Education/Migrant Health pocket directories, large posters, and small posters which can be photo copied. To request materials, call us at 800-451-8058, or write to ESCORT, SUNY Oneonta, Bugbee Hall, Room 304, Oneonta, New York 13820. In addition, our fax number is 607-436-3606.
Funeral expenses can run in the thousands of dollars. Check with area social and human service agencies to see if they have a "burial assistance program" which will pay for some funeral costs. Also, negotiate with funeral homes for fee reductions.
Car repairs are costly. Check discounted tire distributors for low-priced tires. See if your client has friends or family who can do repair work. You can also contact us for a list of agencies that may be able to provided the needed assistance.
The
Harvest of Hope Foundation has raised $35,000 to assist migrant
farmworkers and their families. For more information, contact
Phil Kellerman, President, at 888-922-4673.
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/MEP/news.html Office of Migrant Education
http://www.hhs.gov/ Office of Health and Human Services
http://www.dol.gov/ Office of the Department of Labor
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/ Office of Immigration and Naturalization
http://www.ssa.gov/ Office of Social Security Administration
http://www.serve.org/nche/ National Center Homeless Education
http://telamon.org/ Telamon Corporation
http://www.latinolink.com/ Latinolink Homepage
http://www.nsrs.com/ The School Report - School information & school reports
http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/ Learning & Instruction - Theory Into Practice Database
http://www.splcenter.org/teachingtolerance/tt-index.html Teaching Tolerance