Voice of the Fields CALIFORNIA FARM LABOR INFORMATION BULLETIN
November 2020
COVID-19 Continues
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S THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS pandemic continues, state officials are forced to reconsider reopening plans in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. In California, testing availability has increased while wait times to receive results of testing have decreased. Medical experts estimate that the second wave of coronavirus - which we are headed into now - will be far worse than the first wave that we are coming out of. Cold weather and flu season are just some of the factors that scientists say will worsen the intensity of the ongoing virus. Governor Gavin Newsom recently released the state’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” and tightened up on activity restrictions while loosening others. Allowable activities are largely decided by county and the degree of infection in each region of California.
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To check on which activities are available in your county, visit the state’s COVID-19 website: English: covid19.ca.gov Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/ Flu season goes into full swing beginning in the month of November and will continue through as late as May 2021. Peak flu season is from December to February, which is why medical experts are worried about the worsening impact of coronavirus during this time. With two viruses circulating the state, scientists worry that people’s immune systems will have trouble combatting both illnesses. In other words, getting the flu could worsen the body’s ability to fight coronavirus, and getting coronavirus could worsen the body’s ability to fight the flu. Doctors recommend getting the flu shot to avoid contracting the flu. Vaccines are available for children and adults.
Volume 30, Number 11 To find a vaccine location near you, visit the Vaccine Finder website at: vaccinefinder.org/ find-vaccine. Coronavirus vaccines are still in development and will likely be available by spring or summer of 2021 at the earliest. Recently, California announced a statewide panel review of vaccines to be distributed to residents. This means that a group of the state’s top medical experts will assess the effectiveness and safety of vaccines before making them available to Californians and will also prioritize recipients. So far, the groups that will receive the vaccine first are healthcare workers, essential workers, seniors, and those at the highest risk of transmission. More information will follow once the vaccine gets closer to its final development stage.
Navigating the Holidays During a Pandemic
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FTER HALLOWEEN AND DÍA de los Muertos, fall and winter holidays are coming up with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years in the near future. Usually, holidays include large gatherings of family members and friends, shared foods, games, and big events that make social distancing and safety precautions difficult. This is usually a time where we all come together and it’s hard to imagine not engaging in the same close-knit activities that we have in the past. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that
the pandemic will not last forever, and this will likely be the only holiday season that we have to alter our behavior to keep each other safe. Over the course of COVID-19, California found that transmission of the virus occurs often at social gatherings where non-household members come together and do not practice safety protocols. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the flu, consider a holiday gathering that only includes your family household. If you will be attending a gathering with those outside of your household, remember
Resources Available to Your Family
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HE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (EDD) offers basic necessities assistance to families in need of food, medical, or cash aid, along with many other programs. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers sometimes fall under the “Expedited Services” category which means that these workers can have their application processed quickly for immediate action. For information about services available in your county, visit the e-Benefits California section of the EDD website to identify resources near you like Medi-Cal, CalFresh (food assistance), CalWorks (aid for families with children), and general cash assistance:
English: www.benefitscal.org Spanish: www.benefitscal.org/landing_02.html The EDD website also provides detailed information and options for each assistance program. For instance, under Food Assistance, you can find local food banks near you for groceries, apply for free summer lunch programs, and receive free or reduced-price school meals. Under Medical Care and Healthcare Coverage, you can learn more about Covered California to apply for health insurance, see what county medical services programs are available in your area, in addition to finding community health clinics near you. There are many more resources available such as employment and training services, housing and utilities assistance, and human services assistance. For more information about additional resources available to your family, visit the EDD website: English: www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/Additional_Resources.htm Spanish: www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/Additional_Resources_Espanol.htm
to practice social distancing and mask wearing, in addition to cleanliness habits like washing your hands after touching public surfaces and disinfecting areas that people touch, like countertops and door handles. Also consider serving individual plates instead of a buffet-style meal to avoid multiple people touching the same serving utensils and food. If you are attending a public event, like a Christmas tree lighting or ice skating, practice the same social distancing and mask-wearing efforts as well as other safety protocols like frequent hand washing and avoiding touching your face. If you are traveling to visit family during the holidays, check to see whether the area you are traveling to has high infection rates or travel warnings by checking the Center for Disease Control website in the Travel section: English: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ travelers/travel-during-covid19.html Spanish: spanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
Voice of the Fields California Circulation: 45,000 copies www.LaCooperativa.org Published monthly by: La Cooperativa Campesina de California 1107 9th Street, Suite 420, Sacramento, CA 95814 This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner. Content produced by ALZA Strategies, a full-service strategy firm that offers tise into the growing Latino market.
Dealing with Wildfires
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LTHOUGH WILDFIRES can occur at any time, wildfire season generally lasts from May to October in California, which means that we may be nearing the end of what has been a historical year for wildfires. As of now, wildfires are still burning throughout the state, putting residents, towns, and food security at risk. Disaster assistance is available to many Californians affected by the fires, including undocumented workers. For some programs though, you need to fall under the category of “eligible immigrants,” which includes those who are: n Green card holders n Asylees and refugees n People granted humanitarian parole for one year n People whose deportation status has been withheld due to status as a political refugee n Cuban or Haitian entrants n Victims of domestic violence with a pending petition for relief Keep in mind that emergency shelters are available to you, regardless of immigration status. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that they are not visiting disaster relief sites like shelters and food banks for the purposes of immigration enforcement. The Federal Government strongly encourages following the guidance of local officials and seeking help and shelter no matter your immigration status. If you do not speak English well or at all, free translation and interpreter services should be provided to you. Shelters like the American Red Cross are managed by local communities and voluntary agencies that provide food, shelter, and other support regardless of race, religion, or citizenship status. You will not be asked to show identification in order to stay at their shelters, though you may have to show some form of proof of address to meet with a caseworker to facilitate disaster recovery. If you don’t have a government-issued identification, you can often use other forms of documentation like a utility bill. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Disaster unemployment assistance benefits filing deadline was recently extended to November 30 for those affected by wildfires.
Wednesday 10am November 25 December 23
Beware of Immigration Scams
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ALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL Xavier Becerra recently issued a warning to individuals regarding immigration scams. People often hire notaries or immigration consultants for legal assistance with an immigration matter. However, the California Department of Justice finds that sometimes these services can be scams and end up doing more harm than good. If you need legal assistance, Becerra recommends familiarizing yourself with your rights and legitimate immigration resources and seeking reliable legal assistance if you need it. Below are some tips to keep in mind if you need immigration resources or aid. n Do not hire an immigration consultant or notary. The only services these professionals can lawfully provide are clerical tasks like helping you get documents or filling out forms. They are not permitted to give legal advice or represent your case to the government. n Do not hire an immigration attorney without confirming that they are licensed to practice law. Check to see if a lawyer is licensed to practice law in California by going to members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/LicenseeSearch/ QuickSearch?ResultType=0&SearchType=0&SoundsLike=False n Do not pay for immigration forms. Immigration forms are available for free at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website: English: www.uscis.gov/forms Spanish: www.uscis.gov/es/formularios n Make sure to get immigration information from .gov websites that are government-affiliated and not private webpages. n Make sure that you have received, read, and understand a paper copy of your contract before paying for immigration services. If you are not fluent in English, you should request that your contract be translated into your language. You also have a right to keep a copy of the contract and request receipts for your payments. n Do not provide original documents to anyone. Only provide copies of your original documents so that they aren’t lost or used as a way to get more money from you. n Be sure that the forms you fill out are accurate. Do not sign anything that includes incorrect information or blanks. n Do not provide money or personal information to people who call you. No federal or state agency will ever ask for personal information or payment over the phone, by text, or by email. n Keep copies of all documents related to your immigration matter.
More Resources
California Department of Social Services (CDSS)—This department has a list of non-profit organizations that provide free legal services for low-income individuals. View the list here: English: www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/more-services/immigration-services/immigration-services-contractors Spanish: To view this page in Spanish, click the “Select Language” drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner and select “Spanish.” The State Bar of California—Low-income Californians can receive free civil legal services through a list of organizations found here: English: www.calbar.ca.gov/Access-to-Justice/Legal-Aid-Grants/2020-Grant-Recipients Spanish: To view the page in Spanish, click the drop-down menu under the title “Select Language” and select “Spanish.” Law Help CA—This site does not provide legal advice, but it does provide general information, as well as information on legal aid organizations and referral services: English: www.lawhelpca.org Spanish: www.lawhelpca.org/es U.S. Department of Justice Office of Recognition and Accreditation—Visit this site for a list of California’s recognized and accredited representatives and organizations by state and city: www.justice.gov/eoir/page/ file/942306/download#CALIFORNIA
Help with Immigration Scams
If you have suffered an immigration scam, there are many things you can do: n Reach out to your local District Attorney or county department of consumer affairs. n File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission: English: reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=USCISCREO Spanish: reportefraude.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=USCISCREO n Additional tools to help you avoid immigration scams are available on the USCIS website: English: www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams Spanish: www.uscis.gov/es/fraude-estafas-y-fallas-en-el-desempeno/evite-las-estafas-de-inmigracion n Report it to the Attorney General: English: oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company Spanish: To view this page in Spanish, click on “Translate Website” in the upper right-hand corner. Then click the drop-down menu at the bottom of the pop-up window and select “Spanish.”