Immigration reform is well underway. From executive orders, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids to protests; all of which are causing fear to strike many homes. In the wake of such events, several Omaha community organizations such as: Justice for Our Neighbors, Nebraska Appleseed, and Heartland Workers Center, hosted a train the trainer workshop called “How to Help Our Immigrant Community”. The workshop, held on February 11 at UNO Alumni Center, was free for organizational leaders and service providers who work with immigrant and refugee families. Over 150 community members from various agencies were in attendance. The information and the training materials provided were detailed and well put together. A binder full of documents explaining the rights of undocumented individuals, how to create a safety plan, and other useful resources were provided.

A couple of key takeaways that will be benefit some of the families within Collective for Youth’s Afterschool Programs are:

1. Update afterschool program’s emergency contact information. In most cases the afterschool program is the last place the student attends before going home. If a parent or guardian were to be detained the student would be left at the program and without the correct emergency contact information, the student could become wards of the state.
2. Develop a “what if” plan and identify a trusted individual such as a neighbor that will be willing to care for his/her children if one were to be detained. Complete, notarize, and give a copy to the delegated individual a Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers (NE TDPP) form which authorizes consent to medical treatment, enrollment in school, and/or other programs the child(ren) may be involved in.
3. Most importantly, know your rights as an immigrant.

For the complete “Rights and Planning Guide” and other downloadable resources given at the training, visit Justice For Our Neighbors.