Q&A
MOIA's specific programming and outreach for unaccompanied minors
1:56:03
·
6 min
Council Member Alexa Avilés questioned MOIA representatives about their specific programming and outreach for unaccompanied minors. Key points included:
- MOIA does not have a specific program dedicated to unaccompanied minors.
- Outreach is conducted through community partners, contractors in the Silent Secret navigation centers program, and MOIA external affairs staff.
- From January to present, MOIA's external affairs team held 27 events dedicated to the 18-24 population and provided IDNYC enrollment help to over 1,000 youth aged 18-24.
- MOIA distributes general services information and hotline numbers at events and tabling sessions.
- The MOIA immigration legal support hotline answered 57,000 calls in fiscal 2024, with approximately 10% from youth under 24.
- MOIA partners with multiple agencies and a group called Alundia to address issues related to child candy selling and provide resources to families.
The discussion revealed that while MOIA conducts various outreach activities, there is no dedicated programming for unaccompanied minors.
Alexa Avilés
1:56:03
So in terms of what specific programming does Moia have for unaccompanied minors?
Tom Tortorici
1:56:10
Moi does not have a specific program dedicated to that population.
Alexa Avilés
1:56:14
Okay.
1:56:14
That's my thought.
1:56:17
I think we'll be wrapping up, and don't worry.
1:56:19
I haven't forgotten about the rest of the panel.
1:56:22
Can you tell us how Moya performs outreach around this population to ensure that they're connected to appropriate resources?
1:56:31
Absolutely.
1:56:32
And what does coordination look like with aycd and ACS in this regard?
Tom Tortorici
1:56:40
Moia provides outreach in a few different ways.
1:56:43
Some of them are through our community partners as contractors in the Silent Secret navigation centers program.
1:56:52
Some of our outreach is conducted by Moia external affairs staff.
1:56:58
In fact, in the past year, I have some data here related to external affairs activities that I can provide.
1:57:09
Just one moment, please.
1:57:28
From January to present of this year, the Moi external affairs team held 27 events dedicated specifically to the 18 to 24 population.
1:57:41
And from May of this year to present provided more than 1000 youth aged 18 to 24 with IDNYC Enrollment Help.
1:57:53
That group also provides one pagers the one pagers I referenced earlier with general services information.
1:58:03
And other information at those events and tabling events, a form of outreach, and it's outreach because we distribute information about the Moi immigration legal support hotline, is is that mechanism, so providing the hotline number, youth call.
1:58:20
As mentioned previously, the hotline answered 57,000 calls in calendar in fiscal 24.
1:58:29
We estimate that approximately 10% of those were in Brent Youth under the age of twenty four, and that also is an important lifeline.
1:58:39
Additionally, Moia partners with multiple agencies, as well as a group called Algundia, which is not funded by the city, but works closely with Moia and the city, including Owasso and other partners, to address issues related to child candy selling and provide resources in support to those families and also understand better, understand the trends that are occurring.
Alexa Avilés
1:59:06
So how are you how are you working with unbundia?
Tom Tortorici
1:59:11
There is a working group that that partners with them closely.
1:59:18
So the city provides information about resources that they can distribute.
1:59:24
And also hears from them about the needs and trends of that particular population.
Alexa Avilés
1:59:30
So a working group at Moya that's providing flyers or to to Alundia.
Tom Tortorici
1:59:38
I believe that the working group is populated mostly by members of the deputy mayor for health and human services and Williams Isom's team.
1:59:48
Moya participates as well, and it's it's an information exchange, as well as an opportunity to provide training on how to distribute and talk about city resources and services.
Alexa Avilés
2:00:05
Are they offering funding to this group?
Tom Tortorici
2:00:07
To my knowledge, there is no funding involved.
Alexa Avilés
2:00:12
In terms of the RHI providers have reported that there have been long wait lists for immigration as since at their sites.
2:00:20
How is Moya coordinating pro bona immigration attorneys and legal services to support the RHI providers?
Tom Tortorici
2:00:29
The only coordination that Moya has engaged in with respect to immigration and legal services at the Wise rights has been the sprint over the summer.
2:00:38
Moia, aside from that, Moia is required by local law 4 to provide an annual presentation to RHI case managers and leadership with respect to the availability of immigration legal services citywide, and we do that on a regular basis, well, annually.
2:00:56
And I think more than 400 youth received information that was provided over the past approximately calendar year.
Alexa Avilés
2:01:07
So the sprint the sprint is over.
2:01:10
Were you not doing that work anymore?
2:01:12
It was just that surge during the summer.
Tom Tortorici
2:01:15
It was through August 31st.
Alexa Avilés
2:01:17
Is does Maia have plans to continue to do this work given the numbers haven't decreased?
Tom Tortorici
2:01:23
As you know, Maia's immigration and legal service programs are in a transitional period with the issuance of the new procurement.
2:01:30
And so after that process is concluded, we will look to the providers and what they may be able to provide, and the places where resources and support are needed.
2:01:43
And make those connections as best we can.
Alexa Avilés
2:01:47
That's concerning.
2:01:48
How is Moyo coordinating with minors that aren't going through or are at the border?
2:01:55
Does Moyo have a mechanism to ensure those minors still receiving specialized services for their age group.
Tom Tortorici
2:02:03
Other than ensuring that the action of my C hotline and all of our community and legal service partners screen and refer and bring you to eye care for immigration and legal services, as well as the broad distribution of information about those service entry points that I referenced earlier.
2:02:21
We do not have mechanisms, but those are the 2 main ones.