QUESTION
What methods does the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) use to understand the needs of older immigrant New Yorkers, and what are their findings?
0:47:31
·
8 min
The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) employs data collection methods such as an event request link and the Asymoria hotline to understand the needs of older immigrant New Yorkers, emphasizing voluntary information sharing to maintain trust.
- MOIA utilizes a blend of data collection methods, including public event requests and the Asymoria hotline, to gather insights on immigrant needs.
- By encouraging voluntary disclosure of the year of birth, MOIA attempts to tailor its services specifically for older adults, without mandating personal data disclosure.
- Data collected aids in assessing service requests related to language access, housing, public safety, and more, allowing focused allocation of services.
- MOIA engages with community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based communities, and sister agencies to ensure the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
- Despite data collection efforts, Council Member Avilés requests more specific information on the needs of older immigrant adults and the services most requested.
Alexa Avilés
0:47:31
So to go back to the data question, is there does does Moya have any other additional more nuanced data that sheds light on the unique needs of older immigrant New Yorker as as distinct from their US counterparts?
Miguel Santana
0:47:51
So, I mean, we have we have a system in place to track all types of requests.
0:47:57
We have, as mentioned previously, an event request link that would is open to the public to provide us with information on support that they're looking for.
0:48:06
So that's one mechanism that we use to receive inquiries.
0:48:11
So mechanism that we use is we have the asymoria hotline where constituents can call at any point, at any time, share whatever information.
0:48:20
And from that information that we gather, we're able to put together some data, you know, that gives us a sense of what the needs are, what the requests are in terms of language access requests, in terms of the services that they're looking for and the support that they're looking for.
0:48:38
From that data, we can try to assess, you know, the different levels of population, but that's based on a self identifying optional item in in terms of our request to them.
0:48:53
And that's if they provide us the year of birth.
0:48:55
We cannot mandate that, and we won't do that.
0:48:58
Because we don't want to compromise the trust that they have to reach out to us.
0:49:04
So we're very mindful of being very careful on how we manage those situations.
0:49:08
We welcome them to provide us that information because, obviously, if they provide us at least the year of birth, we can this aggregate the information and be able to focus our services more, you know, specifically to older adults.
Alexa Avilés
0:49:23
So can you tell us, look, what do you know about the older adults from the data that you've received?
0:49:29
You've mentioned event requests.
0:49:31
What do we know about that?
0:49:33
What do we know about what is being requested?
Miguel Santana
0:49:36
Well, I mean, basically, I mean, they will they will request services that cater to their needs.
0:49:43
And so we make sure that we respond to that as best we can.
0:49:49
No.
Alexa Avilés
0:49:50
So what I'm asking for, I'm I'm sorry to cut you off.
0:49:52
I don't I don't I'm asking for specificity.
0:49:55
You're speaking in very vague terms.
0:49:57
They are asking for services.
0:49:59
We know that's the case.
0:50:00
So can you tell us, over this last year, we have 30% requesting this level of service.
0:50:07
We have 20% requesting this service.
0:50:10
These are the languages that seem to be predominant.
0:50:12
These are the can you give us an description of what Moya is finding given the data that you're collecting knowing the limitations.
0:50:26
So I'm just asking for more specificity.
Miosotis Muñoz
0:50:28
If if I may just respond to that question as well, one of the key points in in implementing this new event request link is that based on the request like screen, we know screen is an elder adult program.
0:50:45
So if the person is asking for information on screen, we can pretty much determine that that is a a major item that we're going to have to now shift and focus and prioritize housing.
0:51:02
Another important element of what we do and with this event form is that prior to us going into the community, it allows the community to provide us a list of needed areas that they would like to connect with city hall.
0:51:18
So for example, if public safety is a situation, we will contact our colleagues in NYPD, and we're also counting on those CBOs to tell us, hey, the flavor of the day what we would like you to do is please bring more resources on public safety.
0:51:39
I know that when we were in your district correct.
0:51:41
Chairwoman, we were in a situation where there was a fire.
0:51:46
So because we're also the crisis, boots on the ground, we're able to go out there and be able to work with not the request that are being made, but also in real time crisis situation.
0:52:01
That's the whole nature of having this outreach team that is very much in real time responding to those needs.
0:52:10
So something like screen requesting information on, like, New York City cares for 65 plus being able to ask for information on how to get citizenship for, like, 51 and over.
0:52:27
Those are the kind of questions that we take very careful note of in preparing.
0:52:33
We take very, very careful time to prepare for these kind of outreach events as they're coming in.
0:52:42
And then at the same time, we're also taking part in different task force.
0:52:48
So for example, through through our sister agencies, we have the New York City Aging, but also, we work with New York City Care's H And H Metro Plus just so that we can assess and be able to be in these facility doing regular stops for like IDNYC application.
0:53:09
When we're out there helping in the health and hospitals, We know this is where the immigrant community comes to get their care.
0:53:17
So we specifically go to these HNH facilities to make sure that we will identify a program like IDNYC.
0:53:26
And in that process, people will approach us, ask us additional question, and another key element is our relationship with the faith based communities.
0:53:37
That is so crucial when working with the immigrant population because it's a safe place.
0:53:43
So we will reach out to like h and h.
0:53:46
We will reach out to faith base and even receive a lot of requests from the faith based leaders because they're the ones that are able to really flag and and and amplify that voice so that we can tailor their request and tailor our resources in a way that is culturally linguistically appropriate.
Alexa Avilés
0:54:12
Okay.
0:54:13
Perhaps I would like to request that Moya send us a very crisp response to what they are finding the major issues are across the city as it pertains to older immigrant adults.
0:54:26
Obviously, you you know the agency is responsive is responding in a crisis way and also you're doing proactive work.
0:54:39
As well.
0:54:40
So I would love to see a concise response around what are the emergent issues for older immigrant adults that you are seeing.
0:54:49
Across the city and how you are responding to that in terms of time.
0:54:54
You you said a lot, but I still have no sense to be frank, what exactly is emerging for older immigrant adults in this community?
0:55:05
So I'd actually like to move on and just request the agency actually provide that response
Rita Joseph
0:55:11
Okay.
Alexa Avilés
0:55:12
With numbers because you it's like responding to everything and nothing at the same time.
0:55:18
Right?
0:55:18
I I really want to understand.
0:55:21
Are we seeing is it language access?
0:55:25
Is it other things?
0:55:26
Is in health care.
0:55:27
You should have a real clear sense of where the emergencies are in community.
0:55:34
Okay.