For Immediate Release: Friday, April 12, 2019
Discussion will focus on ESOL and Montgomery County Public School enrollment trends for foreign-born students, updates from the Departments of Health and Human Services and Recreation, and the Children Fleeing Violence Workgroup on immigrant children and families
ROCKVILLE, Md., Apr. 11, 2019—On Friday, April 12 at 2pm, members of the Council’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Gabe Albornoz and Education and Culture (E&C) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Craig Rice, will hold a joint meeting to review County policies regarding unaccompanied minors and newly arrived immigrant families. The HHS Committee also includes Councilmembers Evan Glass, Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities, and Craig Rice. The E&C Committee also includes Council President Nancy Navarro, and Councilmember Will Jawando, Lead for Libraries.
These Committees will receive an overview from Montgomery County Public Schools, Department of Recreation, and the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. Following their briefing, the committees will receive an update from the Children Fleeing Violence Workgroup.
“This joint hearing is a follow-up conversation on the humanitarian crisis evolving at the U.S. Southern border,” said Councilmember Albornoz. “Many of the children and families who are fleeing violence from the Central American region are seeking asylum from the torture they endured in their respective countries. I saw this first-hand during my trip to McAllen, Texas several months ago. As HHS Chairman, I will do all that I can to identify resources to help these asylum seekers heal from their trauma and become productive residents in our County.”
In January, Councilmember Albornoz joined a group of community and civic leaders along with more than 75 volunteers in San Antonio, Texas, to gather supplies, and pack and deliver care packages with food, clothing, and other necessities to families seeking asylum at the Texas-Mexico border. Councilmember Albornoz self-funded this trip.
"These discussions are critical to ensure our county is providing the needed resources for our unaccompanied minors who come to us after escaping violence and poverty in their home country," said Councilmember Rice. "Schools often become the front line where these children first connect with trusted adults, receive regular meals, gain access to mental health and medical services and learn a new language in a new country. It is up to us to help them navigate this new chapter in their lives and create opportunities for them to thrive and follow their dreams."
Information from the Pew Research Center indicates that from January to June 2015 unaccompanied children were 11% and family units were 10% of all apprehensions at the U.S. southern border. For the same time period in 2018, unaccompanied children were 13% and family units were 24% of apprehensions—a 140% increase for family units.
The Office of Community Partnerships and the Department of Recreation will provide some observations on youth and families they are serving through their programs. Representatives from MCPS, MC HHS, Office of Community Partnerships, and the Department of Recreation will provide a summary of the progress and challenges their respective agencies are experiencing through their programming pertaining to this issue. These governmental representatives include: Dr. Jonathan Brice, associate superintendent, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); Dr. Maria Navarro, chief academic officer, MCPS; Margarita Bohorquez, supervisor, International Admissions and Enrollment, MCPS; Vickie Buckland, acting director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); JoAnn Barnes, chief, DHHS Children, Youth, and Family Services; Luis Cardona, DHHS Positive Youth Development coordinator; Diane Vu, director, Office of Community Partnerships; Kaori Hirakawa, manager, Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center and Robin Riley, director, Department of Recreation
Councilmember Albornoz has also requested to hear from representatives from non-governmental entities for this panel discussion to deliver information regarding their efforts to assist unaccompanied minors and families fleeing violence in Montgomery County. These panelists include: Armando Trull, Armando Media and former National Public Radio reporter; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Joan Fowler Brown, chief of staff, Jacqueline Rishty, Legal Services, Norma Solano and Julieta Machado, Community and Employment Services, Karina Novice, Strong Families Initiative; Diego Uriburu, executive director, Identity Inc.; and Elisabeth Lopez, managing attorney, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
The Council committee meetings will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM). The channel can be viewed on Cable Channels 996 (high definition) and 6 (standard definition) on Comcast; Channels 1056 (HD) and 6 (SD) on RCN; and Channel 30 on Verizon.
The meetings also will be available live via streaming through the Council web site at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
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