SACRAMENTO, Calif.,
Sept. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- Over the weekend, the Trump Administration released a
radical new regulatory proposal that would drive up poverty,
hunger, unmet health care needs, and worsen a range of other
problems facing communities across the
United States.
The rule would mark a fundamental change from our nation's and
California's historic commitment
to ensuring immigrants can meet the most basic necessities of
life. The Trump Administration's proposed "public charge" rule
would allow immigration officials to deny a green card to an
immigrant if the individual is receiving public benefits that are
intended to help individuals and families meet basic living
requirements. The proposed rule could force immigrant families to
forgo access to a wide array of public benefits, including health
care, food supports, and housing assistance.
Camille Maben, Executive Director
of First 5 California, Moira Kenney,
Executive Director of the First 5 Association, and Kim Belshé,
Executive Director of First 5 LA, expressed their strong opposition
to this proposed change because it endangers the health and
well-being of immigrant families. The organizations call on the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security to restore the policy to its
previous state and work collaboratively with lawmakers to create
long-lasting solutions that are true to our country's shared ideas
of freedom and respect.
"Sweeping in its effect, this rule expansion would chill
enrollment to critical programs that help tax-paying immigrants and
their young children access health care, food, and other essential
needs – programs which have been proven to improve health,
well-being, school success, and economic security," said
Camille Maben. "It would put
immigrant families at risk if a family member seeks basic access to
critical public services."
"All families have a right to engage with the public systems
that exist to serve their health, education, and caregiving needs
without fear of judgment or reprisals," said Kim Belshé. "With
nearly one in four children nationwide having at least one
immigrant parent, this proposed rule change will hurt, instead of
help, millions of kids. There is a shared responsibility, and a
shared benefit from improving the health and well-being of all
young children."
California is home to more than
39.54 million people and is the sixth largest economy in the world,
with over 10 million immigrants. Legal immigrants already face fear
of enrolling their children in health and nutritional services to
which they are already entitled. "First 5s throughout California have received reports that parents
are pulling their children out of preschool and refusing health
services their children are legally eligible to receive," explained
Moira Kenney. "This proposed rule,
if it were to become final, could have a devastating effect on
millions of young children and families across California."
Once the proposed changes to the "public charge" rule are
published in the Federal Register, they will be subject to a 60-day
public comment period. The Trump Administration will be required to
review and assess the public comments before finalizing the rule.
The public will be able to comment on these proposed rules at
www.regulations.gov.
ABOUT FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA
First 5 California
was established in 1998 when voters passed Proposition 10, which
taxes tobacco products to fund services for children ages 0 to 5
and their families. First 5 California programs and resources
are designed to educate and support teachers, parents, and
caregivers in the critical role they play during a child's first
five years – to help California
kids receive the best possible start in life and thrive. For more
information, please visit www.ccfc.ca.gov.
ABOUT FIRST 5 LA
First 5 LA is an
independent County agency in Los
Angeles that advocates on behalf of parents with young
children to help every child, prenatal to age 5, be healthier,
safer and better prepared for kindergarten. Knowing 90 percent of a
child's brain is developed by age 5, First 5 LA partners with other
county agencies, parents and organizations to help elected
officials prioritize funding for early childhood education, health
care and other programs that young children and their parents need.
Please visit www.first5la.org for more information.
ABOUT FIRST 5 ASSOCIATION
First 5
Association is a nonprofit membership organization that advocates
for and works with the state's 58 First 5 county commissions to
build strong, effective, and sustainable systems serving
California's youngest children.
www.first5association.org
ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD IN CALIFORNIA
- 90 percent of brain development happens in the first
five years of life
- California has nearly 1.5
million babies and toddlers, according to Kids Count Data,
2016
- According to a Choose Children 2018 survey, 87 percent of
voters polled said the governor should prioritize early
childhood education
- Fewer than 1 in 3 [28.5%] young children in
California receive timely
developmental screenings
- California ranks 40th in
the nation in its efforts to support its youngest children
- In addition to preschool and child care, high-quality home
visiting programs, like First 5 LA's Welcome Baby program, can
increase children's school readiness, improve child health and
development, reduce child abuse and neglect, and enhance parents'
abilities to support healthy cognitive, language, social-emotional,
and physical development
- Parents with two children may pay nearly half their wages
for child care in Los Angeles
County, according to a March
2017 report that explores the resources and gaps in the
early care and education system within the county
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SOURCE First 5 LA