PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Miral Abbas, Health Partnership Coordinator at Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)
3:25:09
·
3 min
Miral Abbas from CACF testified about the challenges faced by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in New York City, particularly regarding language access and the implementation of Local Law 30. She highlighted the high rates of linguistic isolation and limited English proficiency among AAPI New Yorkers, especially seniors, and the impact of language barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CACF conducted a study showing 34% of Asian American adults reported language barriers as a challenge during the pandemic, with 27% lacking access to timely, accurate information in their own language.
- The study revealed specific language barriers for different Asian ethnic groups, such as difficulties with interpreters and written materials.
- A recent report from the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs found that over half of the service centers were in some violation of Local Law 30, indicating ongoing issues with implementation and compliance.
Miral Abbas
3:25:09
Good afternoon.
3:25:09
My name is Marala Bos, and I am the health partnership coordinator at CACF for the coalition for Asian American Children And Families.
3:25:17
Thank you very much to Chera Avila for holding this hearing and providing the opportunities to testify.
3:25:22
Founded in 1986, the ACF is the nation's only 10 Asian children and family advocacy organization and leads the fight for improved and equitable policies systems, funding, and services to support those in need.
3:25:35
The Asian American Pacific Islander AAPI population comprises nearly 18% of New York City, and many of our diverse communities face high levels of poverty, overcrowding, uninsurance, and linguistic isolation, yet the needs of our API community are consistently overlooked, misunderstood, and encountered.
3:25:55
We are constantly fighting the harmful impacts of the model minority myth, which prevents our needs from being recognized and understood.
3:26:02
Our communities as well as the organizations that serve the community to often lack the resources to provide critical service to those most marginalized API New Yorkers.
3:26:11
Working with over 70 member and partner organizations across the city to identify and speak out on the many challenges our community faces, CAFE is building a community too powerful to ignore.
3:26:23
While local law 30 has thoughts to provide additional support to our LEP community, language barriers are still a huge obstacle state by many folks immigrant communities and especially in our API community.
3:26:36
In New York City, the API community has the highest rate of linguistic and isolation of any group as 46% have limited English proficiency according to a recent report from the New York City Department of Health And Mental Hygiene.
3:26:47
However, more than 2 and 3 Asian seniors in New York City are LDP, and approximately 49% of all immigrants at any NYT are LDP.
3:26:56
During the height of the COVID-nineteen pandemic, we conducted a rapid needs assessment and collaboration with the NYU Center for the study of Asian American Health And Chinese American Planning Council, and we surveyed over a 1000 adults of Asian Hispanic Latinx or Arab descent living in the Metropolitan New York area to assess the current and ongoing needs of the community during the pandemic.
3:27:16
The study highlighted the disproportionate impact that the pandemic had had on New York, Asian American community, and demonstrates the importance of language access.
3:27:25
Specifically, the study found that 34% of Asian American adults reported language barriers being a challenge during the pandemic.
3:27:33
And furthermore, 27% of Asian American respondents indicated that they felt that they did not have regular access to timely accurate information during the pandemic in their own language.
3:27:44
This study also shed light on the specific language barriers that Asian American folks were facing.
3:27:48
Chinese Korean and Bangladesh adults reported high rates of difficulties waiting for interpreter, while Korean, Japanese, and other Asian adults reported higher rates of difficulty getting written materials in their preferred languages.
3:28:01
Being unable to access vital COVID-nineteen information or any health services can be a threat to one's livelihood.
3:28:09
A recent report from the mayor's office of immigrant affairs found that over half of the service centers were in some violation of the local law firm.
Dan Steinberg
3:28:16
Has expired.
Miral Abbas
3:28:19
Thank you.
