FINDINGS: Somerville Immigrant Needs Assessment Survey Report

Somerville Immigrant Needs Assessment Survey Report

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The Office of Somerville Commissions collaborated with many organizations to reach out to Somerville immigrants in 2012. The purpose of the survey was to find the top needs of immigrants, learn the ways people connect to find out important information, and find the various languages spoken by Somerville residents. Hundreds of surveys were distributed, 43 surveys were completed in English (33%) and Portuguese (30%) along with Haitian Creole (21%) and Spanish (16%). There are many different language skills of the survey participants including:
44% speak Portuguese
44% speak Haitian Creole
24% speak French
12% speak Spanish
3% speak Bengali
3% speak Hindi
3% speak German
3% speak Bambara
3% speak Newari
3% speak American Sign Language

Based on the data provided by survey participants collected in 2012, Somerville immigrants’ top three priorities listed by participants were (1) schools & after-school programs, (2) children & youth programs, and (3) family support & information. It is evident that the greatest priorities held by immigrant residents of Somerville revolve around children (in regards to both schools and after-school programs) and the family unit in general. The top prioritized needs immigrants want to keep themselves and family healthy and safe are (1) finding more work/job support, (2) schools & programs for children, and (3) family welfare & education. While children and family opportunities are important, immigrants also want support to find a job or more work.

Almost 60% of responding immigrants have not used the City’s 3-1-1 service. The low number of participants who admitted to having used the 3-1-1 service provided by the City of Somerville indicates that this resource can be much better publicized to residents. Given that one third of participants were not even aware that this service existed, it is evident that advertising the 3-1-1 system would be a productive goal and project for the City of Somerville. The top three sources for information of participants were (1) friends, (2) school, and (3) local agencies. These results show that local immigrants do not use City of Somerville resources or posted signs for opportunities but acquire their information regarding Somerville from friends, their children’s schools, and local agencies.

REPORT PRODUCTION
Report Written and Data Prepared by Kiersten Ellefsen
Report Graphics and Design Prepared by Sonja Darai
Project Designed & Supervised by Sonja Darai

INFORMATION COLLECTION & EVALUATION

Kiersten Ellefsen, Tufts University Undergraduate Intern

PRIMARY PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
o Massachusetts Alliance for Portuguese Speakers (MAPS)
o The Argenziano School
o Mystic Learning Center
o Haitian Coalition

Somerville Agencies and City of Somerville Departments who received surveys for this project
 Elizabeth Peabody House
 Centro Presente
 Council on Aging
 MAPS
 CASLS
 Catholic Charities/St. Patrick’s Shelter
 CAAS
 The Family Center
 Haitian Coalition
 Somerville Housing Authority
 Welcome Project
 Mystic Learning Center
 Argenziano
 SCALE
 SEC

The report and survey is a project of the Office of Somerville Commissions, a program of the Health Department in the City of Somerville.  For more information, contact the OSC at 617-625-6600 (x2400) or commissions@somervillema.gov.

What is the #1 Struggle Women Face Now

Art Beat 2013 results from asking passers-by at the Commission for Women's booth

Photo Source: natashalavender.wordpress.com

What is the #1 Struggle Women Face Now?


Lack of access to education

Lack of female decisions makers

Body Shaming

High/unrealistic expectations

Women judging each other and fighting instead of supporting each other

Being objective in advertising

Finding a job to support my family

Women with kids disadvantaged in work place

Getting better jobs

Childcare

Republicans

We still don't have full control over what we do with our bodies and insurance discrimination

Conservative assholes taking away our rights

Not enough women in science, technology, engineering and math

Stigma

Affordable child care

Stupid men

Cost of housing

Being sexualized

Poverty

Violence

Stereotypes

Income inequality

Sexual violence

Gaining respect

Being considered less equal than men

Texas

Grant longer paid maternity leave with job guaranteed upon return

Control of our bodies and emotions

Male republican governors attacking women's rights

Rape is our fault

That feminism will help everyone

Our voices are still being silenced

More women in government

Being thought as more then just a female

Mom vs. job. can we do it all?

Periods or cramps

Undervalued as parts of our society and government

Knowing their power

People making decisions for us

Buying using tampons/pads

Sexism

Having no support for men as a single mom and raping

Abuse

U.S supreme court

Slut Shaming

Feminism is a "bad" word

Having to look like a Barbie doll

Being judged by what we wear

The glass ceiling

Women in Fla serving 20 years for shooting abusive husband

Join the next Somerville Commission for Women meeting on August 21 at 7:00pm at the Cross Street Center (165 Broadway).  

411 on Protecting Elders

Photo credit:    www.atlanticphilanthropies.org

Knowing the 411 to protect our elders.

Do you know the basic signs of elder abuse or what to do with a concern?

We ask that if you suspect a family member, friend or neighbor is being abused or is living unsafely, please consult with Protective Services (PS). 

·         SIGNS OF ABUSE

o   physical – bruises, limping, bleeding. 

o   More subtle signs may be that the older adult appears afraid around particular family members, crying frequently, or are jumpy when they are around certain people. 

o   If you’re a neighbor, some signs may be:

§  you see cars appearing at strange hours or hear a lot of yelling, or

§  if an elder tells you that they’ve been abused or that their adult child, relative or friend is stealing from them. 

·         NEGLECT and SELF-NEGLECT

o   if they appear to be wandering and lost, if they look disheveled or that they aren’t taking care of their personal hygiene, if they’ve had a very sudden shift in their mental status and all of a sudden appear confused.  If you notice that there have been small fires in their houses – a lot of our self neglect cases are around memory loss and elder’s starting to leave their stoves or ovens on

·         PROTECTIVE SERVICES

o   PS reports are confidential, meaning that we will not tell the elder who reported them to Protective Services

·         RIGHT TO REFUSE

o   Elders are allowed to refuse PS interventions if they are found to have capacity to make their own decisions, even if it still appears that their situation is unsafe.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES HOTLINE

·         DAY

o   Somerville/Cambridge Elder Services (SCES)

Mon-Fri, 9 am – 5 pm:  617-628-2601, ext. 3420

·         EVENING/NIGHT

o   Statewide Protective Services hotline:  1 800-922-2275

Knock, Knock

         Who’s There?

A home visitor for Gramma and Grampa. 

      Hello!

Keeping our elders home, safe and independent is key.  This month’s “Voices of Somerville” episode (City’s channels 13 or 22) has Annie Fowler from Somerville Cambridge Elder Services. 

Watching the show will tell you all you need to know about keeping people safe in the least restrictive setting with supports available for elders and their family care givers. 

SCES offers A LOT for independent folks:

• State Homecare Program putting concrete services such as homemaking, personal care, transportation to medical appointments, Meals on Wheels.
• Checking with elders to be sure they have enough support and are safe
• Help finding a home with more supports (like Elder/Disabled housing building, Assisted Livings, and Nursing Homes, but really only when there are absolutely no other options)
• Educating the community about abuse, prevention, and services.

Watch the program on the City’s cable channels 13 or 22

Catch it again on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmZ1nQFtlw&feature=youtu.be