Ufw Foundation

Programs: Member servicesthe ufw foundation educates immigrants about their rights and responsibilities, and helps them access the immigration benefits that may be available to them and/or their family members. In 2016, the organizations board of immigration appeals (bia) accredited staff directly assisted approximately 2,921 individuals with low-cost immigration legal consultations and legal representation. Clients were mainly farm workers and other low-income latino immigrants who reside in californias san joaquin valley and central coast and in arizonas phoenix metro area. The organization helped its constituents apply for citizenship, deferred action for childhood arrivals (daca), u-visas, family petitions, and other immigration benefits. Additionally, the organization saved naturalization applicants over $300,000 in united states citizenship and immigration service (uscis) filing fees by assisting with fee waivers. Additionally, 8,276 community members were provided assistance with tax preparation, which helped many families attain the earned income tax credit (eitc), and with eligibility screening and enrollment in safety net and health insurance programs such as calfresh (food stamps), medi-cal, covered california (aca), healthy families, calworks, unemployment, social security, and drought relief resources. Furthermore, the ufw foundations outreach in the community reached approximately 33,272 people through in person outreach activities. The organization hosted informational sessions to educate the community about workplace health and safety; the eligibility requirements for safety net programs, such as the affordable care act; available immigration relief; and the rights of immigrants (regardless of immigration status). In total, 984 informational sessions and outreach activities were held. Notably, the ufw foundation received a contract from the california department of social services in 2016 to provide immigration legal services and outreach related to naturalization and daca. This contract allowed the organization to subcontract with 12 other non-profit organizations in the san joaquin valley and central coast of california. This effort has led to further immigration legal services and outreach capacity building in these large rural regions. The ufw foundation and its subcontractors provided 4,696 immigration legal services and reached over 15,000 immigrants through education and outreach efforts.

workers' rightsthe workers rights program focused on the 1) development of a network of 22 organizations across the united states willing to participate in the on-going monitoring and reporting of forced labor situations; 2) the documentation and training of key staff around best practices for engaging forced labor situations; 3) the development of a social media site and radio spots publicizing the reportalo number where farm workers can report forced labor situations; and 4) the mobilization of a network of mexican allies to monitor for cases of forced labor from workers communities of origin.

civic participationdue to a settlement reached with calosha in 2015, the ufw foundation has an mou with calosha that allows the organization to file complaints on behalf of workers when the heat regulations are not being followed by employers. As such, the ufw foundation implemented a heat illness prevention campaign that outreached to thousands of workers to inform them about their rights and encouraged them to report any violations of the heat regulations. In 2016, violations were reported to calosha that impacted an estimated 14,650 farm workers. The civic participation program organized and/or participated in events involving farm workers in california, washington, oregon, and arizona related to the need for the administrative relief programs (dapa and daca expansion) announced by president obama on november 20th, 2014. Similarly, the organization worked on advocating for the overtime legislation for farm workers in california. The legislation was passed and signed by governor brown. Lastly, the ufw foundation launched a voter registration program in the san joaquin valley focused on engaging young adults and latinos. Farm workers became spokespeople for their communities by interacting with news media and social media, sharing their stories, and informing policymakers of the needs of farm workers and immigrants throughout the year. The organizations actions and social media campaigns were aimed to draw attention in unique ways to improve farm workers lives through immigration reform and new overtime policies.