virginia latino pilot project american red cross – informing and educating immigrant residents...
TRANSCRIPT
Virginia Latino Pilot ProjectAmerican Red Cross –
Informingand educating immigrantresidents about emergency preparedness
Purpose/Goals
To increase Latino and other diverse Virginia residents’ ability to prevent and prepare for an emergency or disaster.
Administer survey to better understand demographics, emergency and disaster prevention and preparedness, underlying causes of immigration and health concerns of Latino and other diverse Virginia residents.
To build trust with Latino and immigrant communities.
To provide students with service learning and leadership opportunities. (More on the student experience to come).
To distribute information to area Latinos on services available to them and their rights to an interpreter.
Virginia Latino Pilot Project Partners
UniversitiesHigh School studentsCommunity organizationsFaith organizationsLatino organizations, networksState agencies and officesOthers
Localities participating
Greater Richmond (Richmond city, Chesterfield and
Henrico Counties)PetersburgFredericksburgCharlottesville and Albemarle Outreach planned for Hampton Roads, WilliamsburgSurveys administered door-to-door, during focus groups,
at community programs
Logistics
How we recruitedHow we got the word out (wiki, emails,
word of mouth, recruitment in Albemarle County Schools, CJ)
Orientation session with CJ a sense of our community understanding of how to best do these surveys cultural sensitivity building enthusiasm
University of Virginia orientation and training
Fall 2008
Surveying
Where we went:Bubbles (3 visits)Trophy Chase (with UVa Law’s Latin American
Law Organization)Soccer games (3 times)Southwood (2 visits)
Surveys took about 20 minutes eachStudent experience.
Who we surveyed/ Charlottesville results140 surveys
136 surveys included in analysis
Surveys took place in fall 2008
1
19
114
81
1 114
4
Country of Origin
Gender and Age of those surveyed
Female, 22%
Male63%
Not indicated,
15%Gender
Female
Male
Not indicated
2% 13%
37%29%
8%
4% 1%
6%Age Less than 18
18-21
22-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60+
Not indicated
Education
19%
43%
8%
0% 1%
29%
Level of education Primary
Seconday
University
Master's
Ph.D.
Not indicated
Marital Status
43%
37%
10%
2%
2%
1%
5%
Marital Status
Single
Married
Partner
Separated
Divorced
Widowed
Not indicated
What we found:Disaster preparedness
85
59
3339
22
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Smoke alarm Disaster kit Disaster plan Fire escape plan Renter's insurance
Percent who answered "yes" to having....
Perception of factors that were affecting their health:
29%
6%15%
10%
Poverty, economic hardships
Inadequate housing
Immigrant status Violence
Percent who answered "yes" when asked if health was affected by....
Access to Health Care
12%
20%
21%
45%
2%
How concerned about accessto health care
Very concerned
Concerned
Somewhat concernedNot concerned
No answer
Motives for Coming to the U.S.
69%
44%
53%
14%22% 19%
7%3% 6%
Percent who gave the issue indicated as a reason for immigrating*
Experience During Past 12 Months
9
4144
19
5
18
Very Positive Positive OK Difficult Very Difficult No Answer
In the past 12 months, how has your experience been living in the United
States?
Is there a link between time here and experience in last year?
2
3
1
1
1
11
7
6
7
6
2
1
12
9
6
7
5
1
3
7
5
3
3
1
1
3
1
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
<1-3
3-5
5-7
7-10
10-15
15-20
20+
Year
s in
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Experience in Past YearVery positive Positive OK Difficult Very difficult
Plans to return:
73
4 49
28
Yes No Maybe Don't Know To Visit
Are you planning to return to your country of origin?
24
19
12
9
5
21
1
1
1
1
4
12
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
5
56
5
1
1
Num
ber o
f res
pons
es
Years in United States
Do you plan to return to your home country? (some overlap)
To Visit
Maybe
Don't know
No
Yes
24
19
12
9
5
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
2
1
1
5
5
5
6
5
1
1
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
<1-3
3-5
5-7
7-10
10-15
15-20
20+
Proportion of responses
Year
s in
the
Uni
ted
Stat
esPlanning to return to home country versus
time living in the United StatesYes
No
Maybe
Don't Know
To visit
More information gathered
Whether they lived alone, with family, with people they worked with
Whether they came to the U.S. alone or with friends, family
Long-answer questions about why they came to the U.S. and whether they met their goals.
Other feedback….Slowing economy and jobs: Many reported an inability to get full-time
employment or told of us their recent unemployment.
Lack of English skills and lack of documentation were repeatedly mentioned as an impediments to their goals
Reports on success stories – businesses started, families supported at home.
Coming alone and with families.
The importance of community in getting the word out.
Other feedback and findings (Student findings):
Meeting Our Objectives?
To increase Latino and other diverse Virginia residents’ ability to prevent and prepare for an emergency or disaster.
Administer survey to better understand demographics, emergency and disaster prevention and preparedness, underlying causes of immigration and health concerns of Latino and other diverse Virginia residents.
To build trust with Latino and immigrant communities.
To provide students with service learning and leadership opportunities.
To distribute information to area Latinos on services available to them and their rights to an interpreter.
Ideas for Future Survey Initiatives…
University and high school volunteersMadison House, Spanish classes, student leadersDesignate student delegatesCommunity-initiated input into future surveysMaterials to be distributed: upcoming events, information
on services, ….Your suggestions:
Is there a need for more information gathering? For the distribution of materials? How to best organize future initiatives…
For more information
Peter M. Von der Lippe
Manager, International Services
American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Chapter
Tel. (804) 343-2090
Fax (804) 649-2131
Amy Frazier-Yoder
Lecturer and Graduate Student/
UVa Department of Spanish, Italian & Portuguese