LAN

The Latino Action Network is a grassroots organization composed of individuals and organizations that are committed to engaging in collective action at the local, state and national levels in order to advance the equitable inclusion of the diverse Latino communities in all aspects of United States society.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

LAN FYI - Afordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Toolkit

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that oversees health programs has recently sent the Latino Action Network a toolkit of flyers in Spanish and English about the Affordable Care Act (otherwise called Obamacare).  These are simple explanations of how the ACA will be implemented and what people can do to prepare.  One flyer is particularly aimed at small businesses and their employees.  In order to be ready to enroll people beginning October 2013 with coverage effective after January 1, 2014 it is important we distribute and post this information where people can see it.  Since the State of New Jersey has not decided how it is going to participate, some details are not available, but we should alert people now.  This outreach is only the first step in trying to reach all the uninsured, especially in our Hispanic community.  LAN expects to be part of this on-going campaign.

Follow the link to the toolkit below and you will see eight flyers you can download and print out or post on your websites.  Thanks for your cooperation.

Click here to download: Afordable Care Act (ACA) Toolkit

More information from  CMS can be found below:


Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace starts October 1st, and coverage starts in January 2014. Now that October 1 is fast approaching, we've developed a toolkit with resources to help you spread the word about the Marketplace. The toolkit includes information, tools, and resources you need to help consumers find health insurance to fit their budget, with less hassle. As new items are developed for outreach, we’ll continue to add them to this toolkit.

Also, HealthCare.gov now has information about the Marketplace for consumers. Check out all of the latest information, including 7 things consumers can do now to get ready for enrollment. Consumers can also sign up for Marketplace email and text message updates.

Feeling social? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for even more news and updates about the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

LAN FYI - Future Latino Leaders Law Camp

Future Latino Leaders Law Camp
July 13-21, 2013 in Washington, DC

2013 Application Process Opens December 1, 2012. Create a User ID and password to access the online application.

http://www.hnbf.org/content/future-latino-leaders

The Future Latino Leaders Law Camp is a nine-day program held by the HNBF in Washington, DC and provides up to 30 Latino high school students with the opportunity to learn more about the legal profession. Established by the HNBF in 2005, the Law Camp offers students the chance to come to DC and learn more about the college application process, meet influential Latino leaders, and tour national monuments and various government agencies.

The Law Camp is offered cost-free! However, there is a non-refundable application fee of $50 (fee waivers are granted based on demonstrated need--download form here) and the cost of transportation to and from DC may be required. The HNBF is committed to working with accepted applicants and their families to ensure their ability to attend. Please do not allow the cost of transportation deter you from applying.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Latino high school students who are interested in law to travel to Washington and connect with their peers from across the country as well as meet other successful Latinos. View the map to see what cities our Law Camp students have represented.

ELIGIBILITY

In order to apply and participate, you must meet the following criteria:

Be a high school student entering your sophomore, junior, or senior year, or be a recent graduate in the summer of 2013

Have an interest in learning about law school and becoming a lawyer

Be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or be a legal U.S. visitor with a valid visa and passport

Have a demonstrated interest in helping your community and building your leadership skills

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THE LAW CAMP

"The best part about the Law Camp was the people. The students, the presenters, and the staff made the camp one of the most amazing weeks of my life. Hearing the success stories of people from similar backgrounds as me has inspired me, and showed me that the legal field is an amazing place for Hispanic people." L. Alvarez, 17

"[The Law Camp] changed my mind completely about entering college. At first I wasn't sure about going to college but now I am and I will go to college." J. Lopez, 16

"I am really interested in pursuing criminal law and political science after hearing the success stories of so many Latinos who overcame impossible odds." J. Guillen, 16

"[The Law Camp] has helped me develop many skills that will be useful. The Camp has definitely convinced me that I want to become a lawyer." A. Rosario, 16

For more information, please visit the HNBF website at:

http://www.hnbf.org/content/future-latino-leaders

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

LAN FYI: White House eases path to residency for some undocumented immigrants


latimes.com



By Brian Bennett

9:28 AM PST, January 2, 2013


WASHINGTON — The Obama administration eased the way Wednesday for illegal immigrants who are immediate relatives of American citizens to apply for permanent residency, a change that could affect as many as 1 million of the estimated 11 million immigrants unlawfully in the U.S.

A new rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security aims to reduce the time illegal immigrants are separated from their American families while seeking legal status, immigration officials said.

Beginning March 4, when the changes go into effect, illegal immigrants who can demonstrate that time apart from an American spouse, child or parent would create “extreme hardship,” can start the application process for a legal visa without leaving the U.S.

Once approved, applicants would be required to leave the U.S. briefly in order to return to their native country and pick up their visa.

The change is the latest move by the administration to use its executive powers to revise immigration procedures without Congress passing a law. In August, the Obama administration launched a program to halt the deportation of young people brought to the U.S. unlawfully as children.

The new procedures could reduce a family's time apart to one week in some cases, officials said. In recent years a few relatives of U.S. citizens have been killed in foreign countries while waiting for their applications to be resolved.

“The law is designed to avoid extreme hardship to U.S. citizens, which is precisely what this rule achieves,” said Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in a statement. “The change will have a significant impact on American families by greatly reducing the time family members are separated from those they rely upon,” he said.

Until now, many immigrants who might seek legal status do not pursue it out of fear they will not receive a "hardship waiver" of strict U.S. immigration laws: An illegal immigrant who has overstayed a visa for more than six months is barred from reentering the U.S. for three years; those who overstay more than a year are barred for 10 years.

The new rule allows those relatives to apply for the waiver without first leaving the U.S.

brian.bennett@latimes.com
Twitter: @ByBrianBennett