news noticias COMMUNITY COMUNITARIAS PLUS: Summer/Verano 2009 Society & Immigration page Defenders of Justice Awards page 3

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1 The quarterly magazine of the North Carolina Justice Center COMMUNITY noticias COMUNITARIAS news Summer/Verano 2009 PLUS: Society & Immigration page Defenders of Justice Awards page 3

2 Community News Noticias Comunitarias Published by the North Carolina Justice Center/es publicado por El Centro de Justicia de Carolina del Norte DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND MANAGING EDITOR/DIRECTORA ADJUNTA: Debra Tyler-Horton EDITORS/EDITORES: Diane Morris, Polly Williams, Jeff Shaw TRANSLATIONS/TRADUCCIONES: Luis Olivieri-Robert DESIGNER/DISEÑO: Phyllis Nunn contents contenido EDITOR S MESSAGE/MENSAJE DE LA EDITORA 3 Struggling for Justice/Luchando por la Justicia, by/por Debra Tyler-Horton POLICY UPDATE/ACTUALIDAD POLÍTICA 4 Freshman Quietly Reforms Healthcare/Novato Calladamente Reforma sistema cuidado de salud by/por Adam Searing 4 BOARD OF DIRECTORS/JUNTA DE DIRECTORES Co-chairs: Jean Cary, Raquel Lynch Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II Asa L. Bell, Jr. Dhamian A. Blue Anita Brown-Graham Christopher T. Graebe Richard Hooker, Jr. Fiorella Horna-Guerra Kenneth Jerald Jones Gene Nichol Dr. Gregory Moss, Sr. Orage Quarles, III Rev. J. George Reed Geraldine Sumter STAFF/PERSONAL Melinda Lawrence, Executive Director Debra Tyler-Horton, Deputy Director Bill Rowe, Director of Advocacy/General Counsel Kaci Bishop, Immigration Attorney Carol Brooke, Migrant Worker Attorney Michele Brown, Administrative Assistant Lisa Chun, Immigration Attorney Mary Coleman, Chief Financial Officer Jill Diaz, Director of Development Ajamu Dillahunt, Outreach Coordinator Nicole Dozier, Litigation/Health Access Nina Driver, Litigation Assistant Angella Dunston, Education & Law - Director Dan Dwyer, Litigation Paralegal Elise Elliott, Assistant Finance Director Chris Fitzsimon, NC Policy Watch Clermont Fraser, Migrant Worker Attorney Meg Gray, BTC - Public Policy Analyst Jack Holtzman, Staff Attorney (Litigation) Steve Jackson, BTC - Public Policy Analyst Beth Jacobs, Education & Law - Outreach Coordinator Attracta Kelly, Immigration Attorney, ILAP Director Adam Linker, Health Access - Policy Analyst Harmony Mancino, Immigration Paralegal Hope Marasco, HAC/BTC - Outreach Coordinator Dani Martinez-Moore, Immigration Network Coordinator Carol McNeely, Administrative Assistant Carlene McNulty, Staff Attorney (Litigation) Elaine Mejia, BTC - Director Diane Morris, Senior Editor Jan Nichols, Chief Technology Officer Phyllis Nunn, Design Director Annette Plummer, NC Policy Watch John Quinterno, BTC - Research Associate Daniel Rearick Attorney, ECIR Project Al Ripley, Consumer Action Network Jessica Rocha - Paralegal, ECIR Project Cristin Ruggles, Immigration Paralegal Rob Schofield, NC Policy Watch Adam Searing, Health Access Coalition - Director Jeff Shaw, Director of Communications Rochelle Sparko, Staff Attorney Louisa Warren, Policy Advocate Rochelle Williams, Education & Law - Policy Analyst Kate Woomer-Deters Attorney, ECIR Project VOLUNTEER: Polly Williams 5 Why You Should Care about the State Health Plan/Porque nos Importa el Plan de Salud Estatal y porque a Usted También Debe Importarle by/por Adam Linker COMMUNITY FOCUS/ENFOQUE COMUNITARIO 6 Innovative Approach to Student Discipline/Método Innovador para la Disciplina Estudiantil by/por Beth Jacobs 7 Health Care for North Carolina and America Now!/ Cuidado Medico para Carolina del Norte y América Ahora! by/por Lynice R. Williams 8 Elderly Depend on Ebbing Aid/Ancianos Dependen de Ayuda Decadente by/por Polly Williams 11 The Evidence Is In: The Community Reinvestment Act curbs Unsafe Lending/La Ley de Reinversión Comunitaria Reduce Préstamos Inseguros by/por Jeanne C. Tedrow FEATURE ARTICLE/ARTÍCULO DE PORTADA 12 TOGETHER NC and North Carolina s Budget Crisis INFORMATION EXCHANGE/INTERCAMBIO DE INFORMACION 8 14 When Doctors and Lawyers Connect, Kids Win/Cuando los Doctores y los Abogados se Unen, los Niños Ganan by/por Madlyn Morreale 15 Is Every Child in North Carolina Entitled to Immunizations?/ Tiene Todo Niño en Carolina del Norte Derecho a Inmunizaciones? 16 Tribute: Kay Zwan, Community Activist/Kay Zwan, Activista Comunitario by/por Arthur Vargas 17 On the Road with the NC Health Access Coalition/De Viaje con la Coalición Acceso a la Salud de Carolina by/porhope Marasco 19 Can We Talk? Listening to Public Employees Makes Economic Sense/ Repelen Prohibición Negociación Colectiva para Empleados Públicos en Carolina del Norte by/por Rev. Dr. William Barber II 20 SOCIETY & IMMIGRATION: The Truth Behind the Immigration Debate in North Carolina/SOCIEDAD E INMIGRACION: La Verdad Sobre el Debate Migratorio en Carolina del Norte 22 The Fight Against Fibrowatt by Diane Morris 11 North Carolina Justice Center 224 S. Dawson Street P.O. Box Raleigh, North Carolina (919) phone (919) fax contact@ncjustice.org Legal Rights for Immigrants; 2009 Giving Campaign/Derechos Legales para Inmigrantes; Campaña de Donativos 2009 by/por Attracta Kelly 2

3 DIALOGUE making a difference Struggling for Justice MANAGING EDITOR S NOTE IF YOU RE LIKE ME, you re probably struggling with information overload. Television, newspapers, s, texting, blogs, Google alerts the list goes on. How do you sort through all of this to get to what you really need and still have a life? What should I do to ensure justice is done in North Carolina for ALL? In this issue of Community News our goal is to inform, provide order for this information clutter, and suggest some tools for action. After all, information is vital; it s the absence of information that is frightening. Inside, you ll find two pages highlighting the work of Together NC. By drawing on the expertise of more than 90 non-profit advocacy organizations, service providers and professional associations, Together NC will help you DIALOGO que esta haciendo la diferencia Luchando por la Justicia Si ustedes son como yo, probablemente están luchando con tanta información que reciben. Televisión, prensa escrita, correos electrónicos, textos, blogs, alertas de Google - y muchos más. Te preguntarás cómo leer todo y encontrar lo que realmente necesitas y hacer tu vida. Qué necesito hacer para asegurar que haya justicia para TODOS en Carolina del Norte? En este número de Noticias Comunitarias nuestro objetivo es informar, proveer orden para tanta información, y recomendar algunas herramientas para la acción. Sabemos que la información es necesaria; es la ausencia de la misma la que nos asusta. En las páginas siguientes, van a encontrar dos de las mismas en las cuales destacamos el trabajo de Together NC. Confiando en la experiencia de cerca de 90 organizaciones de defensa, Together NC le ayudará a distinguir el hecho de la retórica en el algunas veces conflictivo debate de cómo resolver la crisis separate fact from rhetoric in the sometimes conflicting debate on how to solve the state s budget crisis. For example, current budget proposals would devastate North Carolina s economy, communities, and families by: Ordering deep and damaging cuts to K-12 education Eliminating a number of basic human services for some of our most vulnerable citizens Making dangerous reductions in the criminal justice system What can you do to help? It isn t enough to just understand the issues. If you d like to see a balanced solution to the budget deficit one that relies on smart cuts and raises new revenue let Gov. Perdue and your legislators know. Time is running out. presupuestaria del estado. Por ejemplo, las propuestas presupuestarias vigentes pudieran devastar la economía, las familias y las comunidades de carolina del norte al: Decidir profundos y nocivos cortes a la educación escolar (K-12) Eliminar un número de servicios humanos básicos para algunos de los ciudadanos más vulnerables Llevar a cabo peligrosas reducciones en el sistema de justicia criminal Cómo puede usted ayudar? No es suficiente entender los asuntos. Si usted quiere ver una solución balanceada al déficit presupuestario- uno que se base en recortes inteligentes y que genere nuevas remesas -hágalo saber de inmediato a la Gobernadora Perdue y a los legisladores. El tiempo se acaba. Bajo nuestra Constitución estatal, los legisladores deben completar las labores Under the state Constitution, lawmakers must complete work on the budget by June 30. They need to hear from you today. The road to justice begins with information. That s where this issue of Community News comes in. The next steps are up to all of us. In the next issue, on Sept. 23, we ll explore the impact of the state budget on North Carolina communities. Debra Tyler-Horton, Managing Editor Visit Please mail information for the magazine to the attention of Debra Tyler-Horton, PO Box 28068, Raleigh, NC 27611, or it directly to debra@ncjustice.org. The Justice Center reserves the right to choose which articles will be published, to edit articles for length and clarity, and to choose which ones will be translated into Spanish. sobre el presupuesto no más tarde del 30 de junio. Hoy mismo, ellos necesitan escuchar de ustedes. El camino a la justicia inicia con información. Ahí es que entra este número de Noticias Comunitarias. Depende de nosotros el decidir los siguientes pasos a tomar. En el próximo número del 23 de septiembre, vamos a explorar el impacto del presupuesto en las comunidades de Carolina del Norte. Debra Tyler-Horton, Editora Visite Favor de enviar por correo cualquier información para la revista a la atención de Debra Tyler-Horton, PO Box 28068, Raleigh, NC 27611, o por correo electrónico directo a debra@ncjustice.org. El Centro para la Justicia se reserva el derecho de seleccionar los artículos a publicar, editarlos en tamaño y estilo, y escoger los que serán traducidos al español. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! NORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER S 11th Annual DEFENDERS OF JUSTICE AWARDS Thursday October 8th 2009 at the historic American Tobacco Campus, Bay 7 Durham, NC Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 3

4 POLICY UPDATE Freshman Quietly Reforms Healthcare By Adam Searing, Health Access Coalition Director FRESHMAN SENATOR JOSH STEIN of Raleigh has quietly introduced two of the most important health-care reform bills in the General Assembly this session. His first proposal is for a smallbusiness health plan that is run by private insurance but is more affordable because a state pool takes on some of the risk of the plan. Businesses, workers, private insurers and the state are all asked to work together and contribute in this plan, a version of which was first envisioned by the NC Institute of Medicine. Stein s bill would also extend and increase the small-business healthcare tax credit from $250 to $400, which would help small businesses while the new affordable plan is getting established. Second, Senator Stein has proposed a comparative effectiveness task force for North Carolina that would put our state in the forefront of reducing health-care costs nationally. Stein s bill would create a task force of experts to better publicize, use and conduct research on which medical treatments work and which don t. We can save billions in health costs simply by not paying for care that is ineffective. This is smart policy and a natural for North Carolina, with its sophisticated centers of medical and health treatment and research. [Check out HAC s recent report on the geographical differences in care in North Carolina at Stein s two bills are far-reaching and, given that this is his first term in the Senate, face obstacles that legislation from longer-serving members might not. However, it s hard to overstate how important it is that Stein is pushing such progressive, yet pragmatic, health-care reform. The major health issue in the NC General Assembly so far has been the state health plan bailout. That law adds millions in health-care cost-sharing for state employees, and it was amended at every turn in both the House and Senate to add more than $100 million in new costs - almost all of which goes Senator Stein s proposals would make health insurance cheaper for small businesses (where most people who are uninsured work) and would contain health costs for everyone paying ever-increasing health premiums. directly to health-care special interests and much of which comes out of the pockets of state workers. So, the health care debate for the NC General Assembly this session has been all about enriching health care special interests while forcing workers to pay higher family health premiums and, at the same time, cutting coverage and increasing cost-sharing. Senator Stein s proposals would make health insurance cheaper for small businesses (where most people who are uninsured work) and would contain health costs for everyone paying everincreasing health premiums. His ideas are a welcome sign of reason in the strange world of Jones Street. Adam Searing is project director of the North Carolina Justice Center s Health Access Coalition. For more information see Novato Calladamente Reforma Sistema Cuidado de Salud Por Adam Searing, Director de Coalición Acceso a la Salud SENADOR DE PRIMER AÑO JOSH STEIN de Raleigh ha silenciosamente introducido dos de los proyectos de ley mas importantes, sobre la reforma del cuidado medico, en esta sesión de la Asamblea General. Su primera proposición es por un plan de salud para negocios locales pero que sea coordinado por el sector privado-pero mas barato por que el estado pagaría por parte de este. Negocios, trabajadores, aseguradores privados y el estado han sido todos incluidos para contribuir y trabajar en este plan, una versión de lo que se había imaginado en el Instituto de Medicina de Carolina del Norte. El proyecto de Stein también extendería y aumentaría el crédito de impuestos a negocios locales con cuidado medico de $250 a $400, que ayudaría a negocios pequeños mientras el nuevo plan es establecido. Segundamente, el Senador Stein a propuesto una junta de eficiencia de comparación que investigaría y pondría a nuestro estado al mando de como reducir cuidado medico a nivel nacional. El proyecto de ley de Stein crearía una junta de expertos para mejormente promover, usar y llevar a cabo investigación sobre que tratamientos de salud funcionan y cuales no. Podemos ahorrar billones es costos de salud al simplemente no pagar por lo que no sirve. Esto es política con inteligencia y natural para Carolina del Norte, con sus centros sofisticados de tratamiento medico y salud y de investigación. [Revise el informe reciente de HAC sobre las diferencias geográficas en tratamiento en Carolina de Norte Los dos proyectos de Stein son de alcance amplio y, dando que esta en su primer termino, se enfrentan a obstáculos que legislación por legisladores veteranos no enfrentarían. Pero, es difícil demonstrar cuan importante es que Stein este impulsando tales reformas de salud tan progresistas y la a vez pragmáticas. El asunto de salud mas importante en la Asamblea General de Carolina del Norte ha sido en estimulo para el plan de salud estatal. Esta ley añade millones en compartimiento de gastos en seguro medico para empleados estatales, y ha sido emendada varias veces en el Senada y en al Cámara para añadir mas de $100 millones en costosde los cuales la mayoría van para los intereses especiales de compañías y salen de los bolsillos de empleados estatales. As que el debate en la Asamblea General ha sido sobre como enriquecer los intereses especiales forzando a los trabajadores ha pagar cuotas de familia mas altas y, a la vez, reduciendo beneficios y aumentado compartimiento-de-costos. Las propuestas del Senador Stein crearían un plan de cuidado medico mas barato para negocios locales pequeños (donde la mayoría de los no asegurados trabajan) y aguantaría costos de salud para todos pagando por las tarifas que siguen aumentado. Sus ideas son una señal bienvenida de razón en el mundo extraño de la Calle Jones. Adam Searing es director de proyecto de la Coalición de Acceso a la Salud del Centro Por La Justicia de Carolina del Norte. Para mas información vea 4 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

5 ACTUALIDAD POLÍTICA Porque Nos Importa el Plan de Salud Estatal y porque a Usted También Debe Importarle (aunque no sea usted empleado estatal) Por Por Adam Linker Why You Should Care about the State Health Plan (even if you re not a state employee) By Adam Linker, Policy Analyst, Health Access Coalition EN LA COALICIÓN ACCESO A LA SALUD NC, algunos nos han preguntado porque estamos trabajando tan fuerte para garantizar que el plan de salud de trabajadores estatales se mantenga barato y financieramente justo. Algunos consideran el asunto una distracción de iniciativas mas grandes para reformar en cuidado medico en nuestro estado y nación. La Coalición continúa prestando atención a los asuntos de la reforma de salud nacional y a los proyectos de ley al nivel estatal que harán progreso hacia seguros con más beneficios y cuidado mas barato. Pero, a cada pagador de impuestos le debe importar el Plan de Salud Estatal porque el estado esta gastando más y mas dinero mientras los legisladores continúan añadiendo costos al plan para agradar a grupos de interés especial/personal. Además, Carolina del Norte enfrentara una situación muy difícil reteniendo empleados cualificados y competentes sin ofrecer un seguro medico digno. Cada vez que un problema sale del gobierno estatal-sea el Departamento de Transportación o Corrección-uno de los culpables sale a la luz. Si continuamos quitando beneficios entonces estamos haciendo nada para aliviar el problema. Pero existe una razón más grande para tomar en cuenta el Plan de Salud Estatal-porque en una fuente de cosas por venir. El Plan de Salud Estatal es una ilustración perfecta de los retos que enfrentaremos si se establece reforma al nivel estatal y nacional. Mientras que el Presidente Obama auspicia mesas redondas, seminarios, reuniones del pueblo, conferencias de prensa y foros, todo el mundo se agarra de las manos y juega justo. Pero los grupos de interés especial y las corporaciones se están enriqueciendo del estatus quo. En el momento que veamos detalles sobre el nuevo plan de salud, los puñales saldrán. Esto es precisamente la razón por la que velamos en Plan de Salud Estatal. Quiere ahorrar dinero en costos de medicinas? Lo sentimos-eso le quitara dinero a los farmacéuticos. Quiere ahorrar en sus cuotas al cobrar más por visitas especiales? Para nadaeso lastimaría a los quiroprácticos. Podríamos reducir los costos administrativos del Plan de Salud Estatal? Lo siento-eso le molestaría a Blue Cross Blue Shield de Carolina del Norte, quien administra el plan. La verdad es que el lograr ahorros en el sistema de salud enojara a varias personas que no van a ganar la cantidad de dinero que ganan ahora Ningún negocio dejara que sus ingresos se caigan sin una pelea. Lo vemos con el Plan de Salud Estatal. Lo veremos con la reforma nacional. Adam Linker es un analista con la Coalición Acceso a la Salud del Centro Por La Justicia de Carolina del Norte. Para mas información vea AT THE NC HEALTH ACCESS COALITION, we re often asked us why we work so hard to ensure that the state employees heath plan remains affordable and financially viable. Some consider the issue a distraction from larger initiatives to reform health care. NCHAC is still paying attention to national health reform and bills at the state level that will move us toward increased coverage and costeffective care. However, every taxpayer should care about the State Health Plan because the state is shelling out more and more money as lawmakers continue adding costs to the plan to appease special-interest groups. Also, North Carolina will have a difficult time retaining qualified, competent employees without offering decent health coverage. Every time a problem is identified in state government - whether it s at the Department of Transportation or in Corrections - one of the culprits is turnover. If we continue eroding benefits then we are doing nothing to alleviate the problem. But there is a larger reason to care about the State Health Plan negotiations - because it is a harbinger of things to come. The State Health Plan is a perfect illustration of the challenges we will face in enacting health reform at the state and national levels. While President Obama is hosting roundtables, seminars, town hall meetings, press conferences, and summits, everyone is holding hands and making nice. But there is big money sloshing around our health system and big special interests profiting from the status quo. As soon as we see the specifics of any reform proposals, the gloves will come off. That is exactly what we have seen with the State Health Plan. Want to save money on drug costs? Too bad - that will take money out of the pockets of pharmacists and the pharmaceutical industry. How about saving money on premiums by charging more for specialty visits? That upsets the chiropractors. Can we cut administrative costs at the State Health Plan? That concerns Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which administers the plan. The truth is that achieving savings in the health system is going to mean some people are not going to make as much money as they do now. No business is going to see its profits cut without a fight. We see it with the State Health Plan. We will see it with national reform. Adam Linker is an analyst with the North Carolina Justice Center s Health Access Coalition. For more information see Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 5

6 COMMUNITY FOCUS Innovative Approach to Student Discipline By Beth Jacobs, Education & Law Outreach Coordinator POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS (PBS) is an innovative approach to student discipline that focuses on creating a safer and more productive learning environment by teaching and rewarding positive behavior. Its effectiveness has been noted by researchers, including Robert H. Horner, who wrote about the policy in The Handbook of School Violence and School Safety. His study found schools that effectively implement PBS have fewer discipline problems as well as improved school safety and academic achievement. In a recent message urging school districts to use federal stimulus funds to reform school discipline policies, the US Department of Education highlighted PBS. The government specifically recommended PBS to improve outcomes for students. This recommendation comes after a coalition of advocates for alternatives to zerotolerance discipline policies petitioned Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The coalition, led by the Dignity in Schools Campaign, encouraged an investment in effective programs that improve student discipline, achievement and school safety. According to the coalition, Helping schools find alternatives to ineffective discipline is critical to ensuring that all students have the right to full development. Twenty-four advocacy groups and 41 individuals signed the letter, which asked the Department of Education to include PBS on its list of programs school officials can fund with stimulus money. With its recent recommendation, the Department of Education remarked, PBS training is aligned with the core goals of the stimulus because PBS can be sustained effectively with limited district oversight once the stimulus funds are gone. With no credible evidence that zero-tolerance discipline policies are effective, North Carolina needs to consider alternative policies that promote a productive learning climate and address disruptive behavior. PBS has proven to be one successful alternative. The stimulus funding provides school districts with the distinct opportunity to implement effective new policies to improve student outcomes. Congress has designated $115 billion of the stimulus funds for education - $25 billion of which could be used for creative, research-based programs like PBS. There are more than 9,000 schools across the country already implementing PBS. These schools are saving countless instructional hours that would otherwise be lost to zerotolerance discipline. Using the stimulus money to reform school discipline policies in North Carolina will save money that will otherwise be spent incarcerating young people who are pushed out of school and into the criminal justice system. Método Innovador para la Disciplina Estudiantil Por Beth Jacobs, Coordinador de Alcance Educación & Derecho APOYOS DE CONDUCTA POSITIVA (ACP) es un método innovador hacia la disciplina estudiantil que se enfoca en el crear un ambiente de aprendizaje más seguro y productivo ensenando y premiando conducta positiva. Su eficiencia ha sido demostrada por investigadores, incluyendo Robert H. Horner, quien escribió sobre tal política en el Manual de Violencia Escolar y Seguridad Escolar. Su estudio encontró que las escuelas que han efectivamente aplicado ACP han tenido menos problemas de disciplina también como el mejoramiento de seguridad escolar y logro académicos. En un mensaje reciente, promoviendo a las escuelas del distrito a usar fondos de estimulo federal para reformar política de disciplina escolar, el Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos menciono ACP. El gobierno específicamente recomendó ACP para mejorar los logros de estudiantes. Esta recomendación llega después de que una coalición de defensores de alternativas a las políticas disciplinarias de cerotolerancia peticionaron a Secretaria de Educación Arne Duncan. La coalición, dirigida por la Campaña Por Dignidad Escolar, promovió inversiones en programas efectivos que mejoraran disciplina y logros estudiantiles además de seguridad escolar. Según la coalición, Es critico el ayudar a las escuelas a encontrar alternativas contra la falta de disciplina para asegurarnos de que todo estudiante tenga el derecho a un desarrollo complete. Veinticinco grupos y 41 individuos firmaron la carta, que le pidió al Departamento de Educación que incluyera ACP en su lista de programas que oficiales escolares pudieran pagar con fondos de estimulo. Con su reciente recomendación, el Departamento de Educación menciono, Entrenamiento de ACP esta en alianza con las metas centrales del estimulo porque ACP puede ser sostenido con supervisión limitada por distrito cuando los fondos del estimulo hayan sido gastados. Con ninguna evidencia creíble que políticas disciplinarias de cerotolerancia so eficientes, Carolina del Norte necesita considerar políticas alternativas que promuevan un clima de aprendizaje productivo y que mejore comportamiento negativo. ACP ha probado ser una de tales alternativas. Los fondos de estimulo proveen a los distritos escolares con la oportunidad distinta de implementar nuevas políticas eficientes para mejorar los logros estudiantiles. El Congreso ha separado $115 billones de los fondos de estimulo para educación - de los cuales $25 billones se podrían usar para programas creativos y probados como ACP. Hay más de 9,000 escuelas a través del país que ya han implementado ACP. Estas escuelas se están ahorrando innumerables horas de instrucción que se perderían en disciplina de cero-tolerancia. El uso del dinero del estimulo para reformar políticas de disciplina escolar en Carolina del Norte ahorrara dinero que, de otra forma, se usaría encarcelando a jóvenes que son expulsados de las escuelas hacia el sistema de justicia criminal. 6 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

7 ENFOQUE COMUNITARIO Health Care for North Carolina and America Now! By Lynice R. Williams, Executive Director, NC Fair Share WHAT MAKES Health Care for America Now (HCAN) different from most health-care campaigns and coalitions is that we are fighting for a clear set of principles that define quality, affordable health care for all. We know a critical part of real health care reform is having the choice of a public health insurance plan that will guarantee quality affordable health care is always there no matter what happens. A public health insurance plan will also force private insurance companies to compete and improve the coverage they offer. A new public health insurance plan will be set up by federal government, and it will offer a standard health care benefits package that is affordable and available to individuals and employers across the United States. Everyone will have the choice to keep their private insurance if they like it or to join this new public health insurance plan. Voters want the choice of a public health insurance plan. The Lake Research Partners firm conducted a national poll and found that nearly 3 in 4 voters want everyone to have a choice of a private or public health insurance plan. There is a big difference between wanting everyone to be in a public health insurance plan and wanting everyone to have the choice of being in a public plan. This is one key part of President Obama s health care proposal and HCAN s vision of reform. I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But, I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year. President Obama - February 24, The public health insurance plan is already drawing fire from the insurance industry and other people fighting against our vision for health reform. Even some members of Congress who are willing to create and enforce rules on the insurance industry don t appreciate why America needs the choice of a public health insurance plan. It is our job to remind them that creating such a plan is the only way to guarantee quality, bring down costs, and force private insurance companies to compete. The opportunity is now for true health care reform. North Carolina Fair Share is the lead partner organization in the state for a national campaign called Health Care for America Now ( Health care is a priority for 2009 in the new Obama Administration. Cuidado Medico para Carolina del Norte y América Ahora! Por Lynice R. Williams, Directora Ejecutiva, NC Fair Share AHORA ES LA OPORTUNIDAD para verdadera reforma de cuidado para salud. North Carolina Fair Share es la organización líder en el estado por una campaña nacional llamada Cuidado Medico Para América Ahora ( Cuidado medico es una prioridad para el 2009 en la nueva Administración Obama. Lo que hace a Cuidado Medico Para América Ahora (Health Care for America Now-HCAN) diferente de la mayoría de campañas y coaliciones es que estamos luchando por unos principios claros que definen cuidado medico de calidad y barato para todos. Sabemos que un aspecto critico de una verdadera reforma del cuidado medico es el tener la opción de un programa de seguro medico publico que garantice un cuidado medico barato y de calidad que siempre este ahí, no importa que pase. Un seguro medico publico también forzara a las compañías de seguros privadas a competir y mejorar lo que ofrecen. Un Nuevo plan de seguro medico publico será establecido por el gobierno federal y ofrecerá un programa de beneficios médicos promedio que sea barato y disponible a todo individuo y contratista en los Estados Unidos. Todos tendrán la opción de mantener su seguro privado, si les gusta o obtener este nuevo plan de seguro medico publico. Los votantes quieren la opción de un seguro medico publico. La organización Lake Research Partners llevo a cabo una encuesta nacional que resulto en cada 3 de 4 votantes querían que todos tuvieran una opción entre un seguro medico publico y uno privado. Hay una gran diferencia entre el querer que todo el mundo este en un plan publico y el querer que todos tengan la opción de un plan publico. Este un aspecto clave en la proposición del Presidente Obama y la visión de HCAN. No tengo ninguna ilusión de que este será un proceso fácil. Sera difícil. Pero, también se que casi un siglo después de que Teddy Roosevelt llamo a la reforma, el costo de seguro medico ha sido un peso demasiado largo para nuestra economía y la conciencia de una nación. Así que no haya duda: reforma del cuidado medico no puede esperar, no debe esperar y no esperara otro año. Presidente Obama-24 de febrero del El plan de seguro medico público ya esta recibiendo bombardeo de la industria de seguros y de otros individuos luchando contra nuestra visión de reforma del sistema de salud. Hasta algunos miembros del Congreso, quienes son capaces de crear y forzar reglamentos para la industria de seguros, no aprecian porque América necesita la opción de un seguro medico publico. Es nuestro trabajo recordarles que este plan es la única forma de garantizar calidad, la reducción de costos y el forzar a las compañías de seguro privadas a competir. Únase a la creciente Coalición Por Cuidado Medico Para América Ahora de Carolina del Norte o llame gratis al Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 7

8 COMMUNITY FOCUS Elderly Depend on Ebbing Aid By Polly Williams TIMES ARE AS HARD for the elderly as they are for most of the rest of us, sometimes harder. Some seniors may be looking for jobs to piece out a bare living as health care, food, and utility costs rise at the same time pensions and supplementary health insurance may be wiped out or sadly reduced. But really old and frail people don t have the choice of looking for work. They re stuck. Providers of services to the elderly are hearing appeals for help from people who did not think they would ever have to ask. Yet as waiting lists grow, services are being cut in response to reduced funding and calls for budget reductions. The Department of Aging and Adult Services surveyed providers and found that all the news was bad. More than 70 percent of providers said requests for help had increased, while 40 percent reported community resources had decreased. Providers who receive donations from the United Way and from individuals find that those are ebbing away. The department scrapped its out-ofdate waiting lists for services and created new ones, whose numbers rocketed upwards. In no time, 65 percent of providers of home services reported 8,632 seniors on wait lists; when all the numbers are in, this number may be doubled. The largest number was nearly 5,000 people needing in-home aide services, with almost 3,000 asking for home-delivered meals. But more than 70 percent of providers of in-home aides are cutting hours or clients and adding no new ones. And 30 percent of providers of homedelivered meals are not replacing persons who discontinue service, while another 25 percent expect they will soon have to do so. Congregate meal providers are cutting down as well. Services are diminishing, then, in the areas of greatest need. Everybody wants the elderly to be able to remain in their homes-the elderly because they love homes and dread institutional care, and everyone else because home care is cheaper. Cutting home care services is not economically smart because some families will simply have to give up and place their relatives in adult care homes, whose cost for those on limited income is shared by the county and the state. The federal government pays only part of the cost for Medicaidsupported personal care services. The Community Alternatives Program (CAP) has a limited number of slots to keep at home persons frail enough for nursing home care. A similar in-home program pays somewhat less than the cost of adult care homes for persons who are eligible for assisted living situations. Both of these programs are limited by funding and by the availability of case managers. The biggest source of home care, therefore, is the Home and Community Care Block Grant, funded partly by the federal government and partly by the state. It can provide a number of services - not only in-home aides and meals but also adult day care, home repair, transportation, and respite services. Each county chooses which of the 18 listed services it will provide. The services are available for persons 60 and older. There is no income eligibility standard, but most of the people served are about 80 years old and poor. Home care programs work and are economical because of volunteers. Anyone who has ever delivered Meals-on- Wheels knows what a huge operation this is; in just one locality it may involve volunteers delivering 1500 meals five days a week. Elderly people may get services through the day while their relatives work, but after five p.m. and on weekends the volunteer army goes into action-friends, neighbors, and relatives pitch in to do chores and help out. Home care rests on an enormous substructure of volunteer aid that should be recognized and celebrated more than it is. A bright spot in this bleak picture of cuts and hardship is the money raining on certain areas from the federal stimulus package. There will be $57 million for weatherizing homes and $2.7 million for the nutrition program, though the largest portion of that sum is marked for congregate programs rather than homedelivered meals. Some money will come in for public health programs. The governor s budget recommended an increase of $1 million for the Home and Community Care Block Grant and restored an allocation of $2 million passed last year but never used. The Senate budget kept the $1 million increase but cut Medicaid in-home personal care services by $54 million (bad move!) and also cut meal service with the money to be replaced by the federal stimulus funding. As I write, nothing is certain yet except that a lot of elderly persons need some help to stay at home and a great many of them won t get it. Thanks to Dennis Streets and Mary Edwards of the Division of Aging and Adult Services for information in this article. Welcome! CAROL MCNEELY joined the Justice Center in June 2009 as an Administrative Assistant. A lifelong Virginian, Carol moved to Apex with her husband Neil and children Trey and Rachel in She studied music at Radford University before moving to Northern Virginia, where she worked in academic, legal and corporate settings for eleven years. After a stint as a civilian at the Pentagon, she moved to a rural area of southeast Virginia, where she became involved in non-profit work, including area floodrelief efforts following Hurricane Floyd in Most recently, she served for seven years as Administrative Coordinator for a Virginia community foundation. She is a member of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Cary, where she is active in the music program JUSTICE CENTER SUMMER INTERNS: Top row: Jen Richelson (UNC School of Law); Laurin Arial (UNC School of Law); Jonathan Palmer (UNC MPA program); Bottom row: Anna Boyer (Salem College); Caroline Phillips (UNC, College of Arts & Sciences/School of Journalism); Catherine Lafferty (UNC School of Law) Not pictured: Rob Lamb (UNC School of Law); Maria Mandujano (SAF Intern); Vanessa Smart (UNC School of Law); Shoneca Evans (UNC Chapel Hill) 8 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

9 ENFOQUE COMUNITARIO Ancianos Dependen de Ayuda Decadente Por Polly Williams LOS TIEMPOS SON TAN FUERTES para los ancianos como para el resto de nosotros, a veces más fuerte. Algunos ancianos puede ser que estén buscando empleo para mantener un tipo de supervivencia mientras el cuidado medico, la comida y los costos de utilidades aumentan a la misma vez que las pensiones y los seguros médicos suplementarios desaparecen o son tristemente reducidos. Pero los viejos y débiles no tienen la opción de buscar trabajo. Están atrapados. Proveedores de servicios a los ancianos están recibiendo suplicas de ayuda de gente que nunca pensaron hacerlo. Pero los servicios están siendo reducidos para reducir la necesidad de fondos y de llamadas de reducción de presupuestos-mientras las filas se hacen más largas. El Departamento de Servicios para Adultos y Ancianos llevo a cabo una encuesta la cual descubrió que todas las nuevas noticias eran malas. Mas del 70 por ciento de los proveedores de ayudas dijeron que las suplicas habían aumentado, mientras el 40 por ciento reportaron que recursos comunitarios habían sido reducidos. Proveedores quienes reciben donaciones de United Way y de individuos descubren que esas ayudas están desapareciendo. El departamento sus viejas listas de espera y ha creado nuevas, cuales números han disparado para arriba en cantidad. En nada de tiempo, 65 por ciento de los proveedores reportaron 8,632 ancianos en sus litas de espera; cuando todos sean contados, este número probablemente se duplicara. La cantidad más grande eran las 5,000 personas en necesidad de servicios de ayuda-en-domicilio, con casi 3,000 pidiendo por comidas-a-domicilio. Pero más del 70 por ciento de los proveedores de ayuda-en-domicilio están reduciendo sus horas o clientes sin añadir nuevos. Y 30 por ciento de los proveedores de comidas-adomicilio están sin remplazar a personas que han descontinuado el servicio, mientras otro 25 por ciento esperan por pronto ellos también tendrán que hacerlo. Proveedores de comidas-a-multitudes también están reduciendo servicios. Los servicios están desapareciendo en las áreas de más necesidad. Todos queremos que los ancianos puedan quedarse en sus hogaresporque ellos aman sus hogares y odian cuidado institucional, y todos nosotros porque el hogar es mas barato. La reducción de servicios de atención en el hogar no es económicamente sabio por que algunas familias tendrán que transferir a sus ancianos a hogares de cuidado., cuales costos para aquellos de ingresos limitados so compartidos por el condado y el estado. El gobierno federal paga solamente una parte de servicios de atención personal apoyados por el Medicaid. El Programa Alternativas Comunitarias (CAP) ha limitado el número de espacios para mantener en sus hogares a individuos demasiado frágiles para ponerlos en un hogar de ancianos. Un programa en-domicilio paga poco menos del costo de un hogar para ancianos para individuos que cualifican para situaciones de viviendaasistida. Ambos de estos programas son limitados por fondos y por la disponibilidad de dirigentes de casos. La fuente mas grande de ayuda domiciliar es el Fondo en Bloque de Ayuda Domiciliar y Comunitaria, financiado en parte por el gobierno federal y en parte por el estado. Puede proveer una cantidad de servicios-no solamente en ayuda y comidas a domicilio pero también en cuidado matutino, reparación del hogar, transportación, y otros servicios. Cada condado escoge cual de los 18 servicios proveerá. Los servicios están disponibles para individuos de 60 años para arriba. No hay un estándar no ingresos, pero la mayoría de las personas tienen casi 80 años y en pobreza. Programa de ayuda domiciliar son económicos gracias a los voluntarios. Cualquier persona que ha entregado Comidas-sobre-Ruedas sabe cuan grande esta operación; en solamente un lugar este puede involucrar voluntarios entregando 1500 comidas cinco días a la semana. Los ancianos pueden recibir sus servicios durante el día mientras sus familias trabajan, pero después de las cinco p.m. y en los fines de semana, el ejército de voluntarios entra en acciónamigos, vecinos y familiares hacen su parte para ayudar. Ayuda domiciliar depende en gran parte en el cuerpo de voluntarios que debe ser reconocido y celebrado mas que nunca. Un punto claro en esta imagen oscura de cortes en fondos y dificultades es el dinero que algunas áreas están recibiendo del proyecto de estimulo federal. $57 millones habrán para ayuda a hogares y $2.7 millones para un programa de nutrición, aunque la mayor parte de esa porción será la comidas-a-multitudes en vez de comidas domiciliares. También entrara dinero para programas de salud pública. El presupuesto de la gobernadora recomendó un aumento de $1 millón para el Fondo en Bloque de Ayuda Domiciliar y Comunitaria y añadió $2 millones del año pasado que nunca se usaron. El presupuesto del Senado mantuvo el aumento de $1 millón pero disminuyó servicios a domicilio del Medicaid por $54 millones (muy mal) y también redujo servicios de comidas con el dinero que seria reemplazado con fondos del estimulo federal. Mientras escribo, nada es seguro excepto que muchos ancianos necesitan ayuda para poder quedarse en sus hogares y muchos de ellos no la recibirán. Gracias a Dennis Streets y a Mary Edwards de la División de Servicios a Ancianos y Adultos por la información en este articulo. SEND US YOUR NEWS! If your organization has news, reports to share, or upcoming events to publicize, won t you let us include them in an issue of Community News/Noticias Comunitarias? Call (919) or debra@ncjustice.org for publishing dates and other details. The North Carolina Justice Center is a statewide non-profit organization. You can support the printing of this publication by sending a donation to: NORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER ATTN: Debra T. Horton/Community News P.O. Box Raleigh, NC NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. THANK YOU! Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 9

10 COMMUNITY FOCUS Support the effort to create a better, healthier, and more prosperous North Carolina Reach an audience of leaders who motivate and inspire others in the Triangle and across the state. The North Carolina Justice Center would like to invite you to be a sponsor of our 11th annual Defenders of Justice Awards ceremony. The event will take place at the American Tobacco Campus, Bay 7 in Durham on Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. First presented in 1999, the Defenders of Justice Awards honor those who have made significant contributions to the fight against poverty in North Carolina. The award categories reflect the Justice Center s four strategies for change: Grassroots Empowerment/Community Capacity Building, Legislative Advocacy, Litigation, and Policy Research and Advocacy. The success of the Defenders of Justice Awards is due in part to the generous donors who provide event underwriting. Sponsorship is a great way to show your support for the organizations and individuals who are working to build a North Carolina that is fair, just, and responsive to ALL its residents. 11TH ANNUAL DEFENDERS OF JUSTICE AWARDS SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LEVELS: Platinum Sponsor ($5,000) Gold Sponsor ($2,500) Silver Sponsor ($1,000) Bronze Sponsor ($500 Corporate or $250 Individual) PLATINUM SPONSOR $5,000 Recognition as a Platinum Sponsor by the Master of Ceremonies ½ -page advertisement highlighting your company s/organization s civic and philanthropic activities in the Fall 2009 Community News and in the Winter 2010 edition of Community News Sponsorship Recognition in the Fall 2009 Community News and in the first 2010 Community News Defenders of Justice Retrospective 8 tickets to the awards ceremony and reserved table Company name, logo and link on Defenders of Justice web page Listed as a Platinum Sponsor in the program and on event signage Sponsorship Benefits GOLD SPONSOR $2,500 ½ -page advertisement highlighting your company s/organization s civic and philanthropic activities in the Fall 2009 Community News and in the first 2010 edition of Community News Sponsorship Recognition in the Fall 2009 Community News and in the Winter 2010 Community News Defenders of Justice Retrospective 6 tickets to the awards ceremony* Company name, logo and link on Defenders of Justice web page Listed as a Gold Sponsor in the program and on event signage SILVER SPONSOR $1,000 Sponsorship Recognition in Fall 2009 Community News 4 tickets to the awards ceremony* Company name, logo and link on Defenders of Justice web page Listed as a Silver Sponsor on event signage BRONZE SPONSOR $500 - Corporate or $250 - Individual/Family Sponsorship Recognition in the Fall 2009 Community News 2 tickets to the awards ceremony* Individual or Company name on Defenders of Justice web page Listed as a Bronze Sponsor on event signage *Please note that, excluding the award recipients and platinum sponsors, there is no reserved seating. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT JILL DIAZ AT (919) OR JILL@NCJUSTICE.ORG. La Ley de Reinversión Comunitaria Reduce Préstamos Inseguros Por Adam Rust, Asociación de Reinversión Comunitaria de Carolina del Norte CUANDO EL CONGRESO PASÓ el Acto de Reinversión Comunitaria (ARC) en los setentas, préstamos no cualificados era una idea sin sentido en la mente de unos cuantos mercaderes es Salomon Brothers. Entonces, la motivación principal detrás del ARC era para enfrentar la situación que muchas comunidades no tenia un buen acceso a préstamos. Una falta de prestamos, en combinación con unos cuantos agentes de bienes raíces sin escrúpulos, mantuvo a muchos en los sectores urbanos en el estado perpetuo de oscuridad. El ARC fue un gran éxito. Le dio poder a muchas comunidades para negociar con bancos y, como resultado, cientos de millones de dólares en acuerdos de préstamo fueron negociados. No había ninguna conexión entre el ARC y lo que conocemos como prestamos no cualificados-prestamos a individuos que no cualifican para hipotecas tradicionalesporque todavía no se había inventado. Pero, en años por venir bancos granes empezaron a juntar muchas deudas de prestamos que podría vender en el Mercado. Como los prestadores originales ya no les importaba cual fuera el resultado de sus prestamos originales, crearon prestamos no cualificados para generar mas ingresos. En el 1995, hipotecas no cualificadas sumaban un total de $35 billones en los Estados Unidos. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 16) 10 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

11 ENFOQUE COMUNITARIO The Evidence Is In: The Community Reinvestment Act Curbs Unsafe Lending By Adam Rust, Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina WHEN CONGRESS PASSED the Community Reinvestment Act in the 1970s, subprime lending was only a crazy idea in the mind of a few traders at Salomon Brothers. Then, the prevailing motivation behind the CRA was to address redlining, where whole communities lacked adequate access to loans. A lack of lending, coupled with the practice by unscrupulous real estate agents of blockbusting, kept many inner cities in a perpetual state of urban blight. The CRA was a huge success. It empowered communities to negotiate with banks and as a result, hundreds of millions of dollars in lending agreements were brokered. There was no connection between CRA and what we now know as subprime lending selling loans to people who cannot qualify for traditional mortgages because it hadn t been invented yet. In years to come, though, large banks began to pool bundles of mortgages into bonds that they could sell on the secondary market. Since the original lenders no longer were concerned with the performance of the loans they made, they developed subprime lending to generate more business. In 1995, subprime mortgages totaled $35 billion in the United States. A decade later, subprime loans totaled $795 billion. None of this history mattered to critics of the CRA, who found the law a convenient scapegoat to explain the collapse of the subprime-fueled mortgage industry. Former Sen. Phil Gramm even argued that CRA caused the surge in subprime lending. Simple facts undermine CRA s critics. For one, the CRA only covers a small share of lending. It governs banks and thrifts, and only in areas where they have deposits. Wells Fargo, for example, had a CRA obligation in San Francisco in 2007, but not in Charlotte. Heavy subprime lenders such as IndyMac, Argent and Ameriquest never had a CRA obligation. The argument against the CRA relies on data that show the large number of loans that went bad were in poor communities. But a closer look shows that banks operating under CRA didn t make the kinds of loans that failed. A new report from the Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina, Paying More for the American Dream, clearly shows that the CRA has fulfilled its original goal to bring more capital into lowand moderate-income communities. The report finds the CRA actually needs strengthening in its ability to counter subprime lending. The basis of those conclusions comes from research that includes a review of loans made in Charlotte. Because of the limits of the data, the authors had to use loans with high interest rates as a proxy for subprime. While that probably understates the true scope of subprime s footprint, it is still a viable method for comparing lending made inside and outside the scope of the CRA. That report focused on the lowand middle-income (LMI) borrowers, because that is the population targeted by the CRA. In Charlotte, LMI means any household with less than $48,000 in income. In effect, what we found tells us that the CRA makes a difference in all kinds of ways. In Charlotte, for example: Only 7.4 percent of CRA loans were high-cost, but 24.6 percent of non-cra loans were subprime. In areas where the CRA was in effect, lenders shied away from subprime lending. The same banks that made fewer high-cost loans in communities where CRA was in place made a lot more high-cost loans where it wasn t. In fact, mortgage companies and credit unions made a lower percentage of...a closer look shows that banks operating under CRA didn t make the kinds of loans that failed. subprime loans (18 percent) than did banks and thrifts not obligated by CRA. In Charlotte s majority-minority neighborhoods, most subprime lending took place where the CRA was not in effect. Only one of every four high-cost loans was made by a lender working under the parameters of the CRA. Mortgage companies, credit unions, and banks without local deposits aren t compelled by the rules of the CRA. In most every case, those institutions seem to have taken that opportunity to make more subprime loans. Nationwide, numbers tell the same story: the majority of subprime loans were made outside of the CRA. Still, as is the case for any 40-yearold law, the CRA needs a refresher. The Community Reinvestment Modernization Act of 2009 expresses many of the potential revisions. It extends CRA to all mortgage lenders, so that companies like IndyMac would play by the same rules as the banks. It also makes explicit the requirement that banks serve minority borrowers, and it might even create a CRA for credit cards. While critics cast the CRA as a villain, it has been a savior for people in low-income neighborhoods. It deserves more power. Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 11

12 FEATURE ARTICLE North Carolina s Budget Crisis About TOGETHER NC Together NC is a broad, diverse, and growing collection of more than 90 non-profit organizations, service providers, and professional associations who have come together around our state s budget crisis to promote wise choices for shared prosperity for all North Carolinians. Why We ve Come Together North Carolina is widely recognized as a great place to live, work, do business, grow up and grow old. Throughout its history, North Carolina s greatest successes as a state have been closely tied to its willingness to make significant investments in public structures - public schools, higher education, transportation, child care, public health and safety, environmental protection and preservation. Today, however, times are tough. The economy is down, unemployment is sky high, and hundreds of thousands of families are struggling. The severe economic downturn and our outdated revenue system have led to an unprecedented budget crisis that threatens state government s ability to provide even the most basic of services. Absent assertive action, North Carolina risks losing much of what has been gained. In the face of these challenges, we must act to protect our investments and work together to ensure widely shared prosperity in the future -- in spite of the economic downturn that confronts us now. By taking bold steps together, we can seize the opportunity to strengthen and expand economic prosperity for every North Carolinian. That s why the members of Together NC have come together around a set of Guiding Principles-to encourage our state leaders to take action that keeps North Carolina moving forward for the long term: 1. Build upon our sound public investments North Carolina can weather this current economic storm - and position itself to withstand future downturns - by building upon our past successes. Strategic investments in the structures, services, and natural resources that make our state such a desirable place to live can ensure that opportunities for good health, economic prosperity, and personal fulfillment are available to all. These same smart investments can spur economic activity and ensure families and communities do not suffer irreversible harm during this recession. 2. Think big, Think forward Now is the time for long-term thinking and lasting solutions. North Carolina is a rapidly growing and changing state, and quick fixes only postpone unavoidable, fundamental decisions. We must address our current challenges and position our state for a prosperous and competitive future. 3. Only a balanced approach will work The balanced way to address North Carolina s current fiscal crisis is to make wise spending choices and raise revenue. Cutting alone will not balance the state budget. State spending per person in North Carolina is actually down from eight years ago, so there is very little fat to be trimmed from vital state programs and services, and excessive cuts will jeopardize our past investments and future prosperity. There are fair, sensible ways North Carolina can increase revenues without stifling economic activity or hurting working families. These are the lasting solutions North Carolina needs. 4. Revenue solutions must be adequate, stable, and fair The root of North Carolina s fiscal troubles lies in how it collects revenue. The state s antiquated, inefficient, and volatile revenue system plays an enormous role in the current fiscal crisis and must be reformed. A modern revenue system will provide North Carolina with the resources to meet current needs and to invest in our future. We must create a system that is adequate so revenue grows with the economy, fair so that all individuals and businesses pay their share and those with the least pay the smallest share, and stable so it does not overreact to changes in the economy. More about NC s Budget Situation State lawmakers are currently crafting the budget that will oversee government programs and services for the two-year period beginning July 1, The state s General Fund is facing a budget shortfall of $4.6 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The General Fund budget pays for the majority of education, health and human services, justice and public safety and environmental programs in North Carolina. It is funded primarily by personal income taxes and sales taxes with lesser amounts from corporate income taxes, excise taxes and other sources. A budget shortfall is the gap between the amount of revenue the tax system is projected to generate and the funding level necessary to maintain current services. The estimated size of next year s budget gap, $4.6 billion, is approximately 20% of the current state budget. It is anticipated that the additional state fiscal relief funds provided through the federal recovery act will fill in $1.4 billion of the $4.6 billion anticipated shortfall next year, leaving approximately $3.2 billion that must be found through spending cuts or tax increases or some combination thereof. The state budget process The governor released her recommended two-year budget on March 17th. The state Senate adopted its proposed two-year budget a few weeks later. Unlike in past years the Senate s proposed budget included a target for revenue enhancements (i.e. increases) of $544 million in year one and $732 million in year two, but it did not specify exactly how that revenue would be generated (the governor also included revenue enhancements in her recommended budget). In recent weeks the leadership of the Senate Finance Committee released a draft revenue plan that would raise the amount of revenue specified in the Senate s budget. However, it has not yet held a committee or floor vote on the proposed plan. In the time since the Senate and the governor put forth their respective budgets, the projected shortfall has grown by more than $1 billion because state economists have revised next year s revenue forecast to account for the deepening recession and its impacts on tax revenues. From the TOGETHER NC Press Event on June 2nd: Coalition representing millions: Raising revenues necessary to lead North Carolina out of recession At a Together NC news conference, more than 80 groups urged lawmakers to avoid devastating cuts by taking a balanced approach to the budget RALEIGH (June 2, 2009) -- More than 80 groups united on Tuesday to send state lawmakers a message: preserving public investment in North Carolina is worth raising much-needed revenues. Closing North Carolina s budget gap with cuts alone will devastate families and communities across the state, the groups say, and will deepen and prolong the recession as well. A balanced approach that includes strategic tax increases along with judicious cuts is the best way to protect working families and avoid prolonging the recession. Unfortunately, because of the current budget crisis, all we ve been hearing is about how we need to slash vital programs, said George Reed of the NC Council of Churches. This one-sided approach isn t going to work, and it will set back decades of progress. Now is the time for our lawmakers to show courage and leadership by raising the revenue our state needs to prosper. 12 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

13 ARTÍCULO DE PORTADA Together NC, a broad and diverse coalition of non-profit organizations, service providers, and professional associations, is joining with newly allied organizations and supportive individuals to call for smart revenue solutions that preserve vital programs. To promote quality education, and public health and safety, the people are speaking with one voice: it s worth raising revenue to do these things, said Kelvin Spragley, associate executive director of the North Carolina Association of Educators. The news conference took place amidst a series of Together NC town hall discussions held across the state. After hearing countless stories from North Carolinians about the importance of public programs and services, Together NC wants elected officials to hear from people in communities across North Carolina so that legislators can make budget decisions that support communities and families and do not undermine the state s economic recovery. These economic times are uniquely troubling, said John Quinterno of the NC Justice Center s Budget & Tax Center, because the damage could go far beyond North Carolina s most vulnerable citizens - all of the state s residents would be affected. The problems will become even more severe if the state legislature insists on a cuts-only approach to balancing the budget, Quinterno said. By removing even more demand for goods and services from the economy, sizable reductions in public spending will result in greater levels of joblessness and postpone any recovery. Julia Leggett of the Arc of North Carolina offered several poignant examples. The Health and Human Services budget helps older adults and people with disabilities stay in their homes in their communities. Many of these people would face institutionalization without this muchneeded assistance, she said. Yet the HHS budget is set to be slashed to levels that would put thousands of people at risk of being wrenched from their homes and institutionalized. Also, more than 50,000 North Carolina jobs would be lost. This is tragic on so many levels - for the individuals and their families, it s a crushing and inhumane blow, Leggett TOGETHER NC List of Endorsing Organizations (as of 6/8/2009) Together NC is a broad and diverse collection of non-profit organizations, service providers, and professional associations who have come together to promote wise choices for shared prosperity for all North Carolinians. Now more than ever, in the face of severe economic recession, we must speak with one voice about the need to maintain and build upon the public investments that support the fabric of our communities. 1 AARP-NC 2 ACORN-NC 3 Albemarle Area United Way 4 Alcohol and Drug Council of NC 5 American Friends Service Committee 6 Association for Home and Hospice Care 7 Autism Society of NC 8 The Arc of NC 9 Be Healthy Ministries 10 Capital Area Friends of Transit 11 Carolina Justice Policy Center 12 Center for Participatory Change 13 CFED 14 CFSA-NC 15 Cheshire Center 16 Child Care Health continued. For society, institutionalization is a dramatically more expensive option. Preserving this essential public investment would work better for everyone. It s worth raising revenue to do this. Lao Rupert of the Carolina Justice Policy Center said that preserving forwardthinking public safety programs made sense for communities across the state. Consultant Program 17 Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County 18 The Coalition 19 Common Cause NC 20 Community Reinvestment Association of NC 21 Community Service Network, Inc. 22 Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Fayetteville 23 Covenant with North Carolina s Children, Inc. 24 Democracy North Carolina 25 Disability Action Network 26 Disability Rights NC 27 EITC Carolinas Initiative 28 El Pueblo, Inc. 29 EMOTIONS Organization 30 Fair Trial Initiative 31 Family Violence and Rape Crisis Services 32 F.I.R.S.T. 33 First in Families of NC 34 Fitness Motivations, Ltd. 35 Friends of Residents in Long Term Care 36 Girls Inc. of Wilmington 37 Good Work 38 Guilford County Acorn 39 IDA and Asset Building Collaborative of NC 40 League of Women Voters NC 41 League of Women Voters- Wake County 42 Legal Services of Southern Piedmont 43 Mental Health Assoc. in NC 44 MDC, Inc 45 NARAL Pro-Choice NC 46 National Assoc. of Social Workers-NC Chapter 47 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC 48 NAMI Cabarrus County 49 National Multiple Sclerosis Society 50 NC Adult Day Services Association 51 NC AFL-CIO 52 NC Association of the Deaf 53 NC Association of Educators (NCAE) 54 NC Association of Local Public Health Directors 55 NC Association of Long Term Care Facilities 56 NC CARE 57 NC Center for Non- Profits 58 NC Child Care Coalition 59 NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence 60 NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault 61 NC Coalition to End Homelessness 62 NC Community Action Association 63 NC Conservation Network 64 NC Council of Churches 65 NC Council of For instance, one of the programs on the chopping block is Sentencing Services. This program, Rupert said, is a commonsense, cost-effective effort to promote public safety through smart, communityoriented solutions. By diverting offenders into treatment instead of prison, the program saves the state millions of dollars, Community Programs 66 NC Fair Share 67 NC Health Access Coalition 68 NC Housing Coalition 69 NC Justice Center 70 NC Latino Coalition 71 NC Minority Support Center 72 NC NAACP 73 NC National Organization for Women (NC NOW) 74 NC Psychological Association 75 NC School Community Health Alliance 76 NC Tuberous Sclerosis Association, Inc. 77 North Carolinians Against Gun Violence 78 Planned Parenthood of Central NC 79 Partnerships in Assistive Technology 80 Rocky Mount OIC 81 SEANC/SEIU Self-Help 83 Senior PharmAssist 84 Southlight, Inc./NC Substance Abuse Federation 85 Triangle Alliance for Retired Americans 86 Triangle Older Women s League 87 UE-150 NC Public Workers Union 88 United Way of North Carolina 89 Venture Rehab Group 90 Working Families Win 91 Speechcenter, Inc. 92 Sierra s Residential Services Rupert said, and gives almost 1,000 offenders a year a second chance while they pay restitution to their victims. Preserving public investments in the justice system would make our communities safer and would save countless dollars in the long run. Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 13

14 COMMUNITY FOCUS When Doctors and Lawyers Connect, Kids Win By Madlyn Morreale, Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of North Carolina MANY FACTORS can impact the wellbeing of a child, including family stresses caused by lack of food, fear of eviction or foreclosure, family violence, unfair debt collection practices, and improper denial of applications for public benefits. This fact has prompted health-care providers, lawyers and others to form new alliances to address these broader social factors that affect the health of children and families. Initially developed by pediatricians and lawyers at Boston Medical Center, Medical Legal Partnerships now operate in more than 80 sites across the country. In Durham, the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children brings lawyers from Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Children s Law Clinic at Duke University s School of Law together with health-care professionals from Lincoln Community Health Center, Duke Primary Care for Children, and Duke Hospital. Attorneys from the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children provide training and outreach to pediatricians, nurses, social workers, and other health-care professionals so they can identify children whose health and development could be improved with the help of legal representation. Those families are referred to the project s legal partners, and qualifying families receive legal services at no cost. Common concerns include substandard housing conditions, domestic violence, special-education services, childcustody issues, and appeals related to public benefits. The lawyers in the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children rarely represent their clients in court proceedings. Instead, they often use a preventive lawyering approach to enforce the rights of their clients and resolve conflicts with landlords, social-service agencies and others. The stories of Jamal, Danielle, and Maria (not their real names) illustrate how the partnership works. Jamal was less than two months old when his parents took him to the emergency room because he was having trouble breathing. The medical team determined that something in Jamal s home was making him sick and referred the family for legal assistance. The legal team then worked with the landlord to address the unfit living conditions, and eventually, the landlord allowed the family to move to a cleaner, healthier apartment. Danielle was being treated by a psychologist at Duke Primary Care for Children. Her mother told the psychologist that Danielle had been denied special reading services, even though she was receiving F s on her report card. The psychologist and the pediatrician recommended further testing and referred the family to the Children s Law Clinic at Duke University. The legal team collaborated with the medical providers and effectively made the case to the school that Danielle needed additional services. Once the new services were in place, Danielle s grades jumped from F s to B s. Maria had been in an abusive relationship for more than a decade, and her abuser told her no one would help her because of her immigration status. But after seeing how the abuse was affecting her child s mental health, Maria disclosed the abuse to the child s doctor. Maria was referred to Legal Aid of North Carolina, and members of the legal team helped her get a domestic violence protective order to ensure that the abuser would not have contact with Maria or her child. They also helped Maria contact Spanish-speaking professionals from the Durham Crisis Response Center, which provides counseling, advocacy, support groups and shelter to survivors and their families in the aftermath of domestic or sexual violence. As the stories of these families illustrate, the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Durham is an innovative approach to enhancing collaboration between medical, legal, and other community-based professionals in order to address the underlying social determinants of children s health and well-being. For more information, visit the website Cuando los Doctores y los Abogados se Unen, los Niños Ganan Por Madlyn Morreale, Abogado de Staff, Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte MUCHOS FACTORES pueden afectar el bienestar de un niño, incluyendo el stress causado hacia la familia por la falta de comida, el miedo de ser echados de su hogar, violencia familiar, prácticas injustas de colección de deuda y la negación impropia de beneficios públicos. Este hecho a impulsado a proveedores de cuidado medico, abogados y a otros al formar nuevas alianzas para enfrentar estos factores sociales que afectan la salud de niños y familias. Desarrollado inicialmente por pediatras y abogados en el Centro Medico de Boston, Partidarias Medicas Y Legales ahora operan en más de 80 localizaciones alrededor del país. En Durham, la Partidaria Medica Y Legal por los Niños trae abogados de Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte y de la Clínica Legal para Niños de la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad Duke junto a profesionales del cuidado medico del Centro de Salud de la Comunidad Lincoln, Ayuda Primera Para Niños de Duke, y del Hospital Duke. Abogados de la Partidaria Medica-Legal por los Niños proveen entrenamiento y alcance a pediatras, enfermeras, trabajadores sociales y a otros profesionales de cuidado medico para que ellos puedan identificar a niños quienes salud y desarrollo podría ser mejorado con a través de representación legal. Estas familias son referidas a los patrocinadores legales del programa y familias que cualifiquen pueden recibir servicios legales sin costo. Preocupaciones en común incluyen malas condiciones de vivienda, violencia domestica, servicias de educación especial, asuntos de custodia infantil y apelaciones relacionadas con servicios públicos. Los abogados de la Partidaria Medica-Legal por los Niños casi nunca representan a sus clientes en la corte. En vez, muchas veces usan métodos preventivos para garantizar los derechos de sus clientes y resolver conflictos con los terratenientes, agencias de servicios sociales, entre otros. Las historias de Jamal, Danielle, y María (no sus nombres verdaderos) nos demuestran como esta alianza trabaja. Jamal tenía menos de dos meses cuando sus padres lo llevaron al salón de emergencia porque tenía dificultades respirando. El equipo medico determino que algo en su hogar lo estaba enfermando y refirieron la familia a asistencia legal. El equipo legal trabajo con el terrateniente para enfrentar las condiciones de vivienda y, eventualmente, el terrateniente permitió que la familia se mudara a un apartamento my limpio y más sano. Danielle estaba siendo tratada por un psicólogo en Atención Primaria para Niños de Duke. Su madre le había dicho al psicólogo que a Danielle se le había negado servicios de lectura especiales, aunque estaba sacando F en sus notas. El psicólogo y el pediatra recomendaron que se hicieran más exámenes y refirió la familia a la Clínica de Derecho para Niños en la Universidad Duke. El equipo legal colaboro con los proveedores de cuidado medico y efectivamente (CONTINUED ON PAGE 20) 14 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

15 INTERCAMBIO DE INFORMACION Is Every Child in North Carolina Entitled to Immunizations? Tiene Todo Niño en Carolina del Norte Derecho a Inmunizaciones? MY DAUGHTER Kamryn was born November 26, 2007 in Fayetteville, NC. Upon moving to Raleigh in January 2008, I continued to maintain my daughter s scheduled doctor visits in Fayetteville. Around the end of January, Kamryn developed a chest cold prompting her father and me to take her to Rex Hospital in Raleigh. After her examination, we were referred to a local pediatrician practice in Raleigh for her follow-up appointment. Two days later she was seen by one of the pediatricians there. Upon completion of her examination, we decided to select this practice as her permanent pediatrician due to the convenience and their acceptance of Medicaid. In March 2008, my daughter was scheduled for her 4-month immunizations. When we arrived for her scheduled appointment we were informed by the nurse at the front desk that our daughter could not be seen because her Medicaid insurance was still registered through Cumberland County. At this time we were given the option of either paying $1,700 for the immunization or taking her back to her pediatrician in Fayetteville. Not having the funds to pay the $1,700, we decided to contact her former pediatrician who informed us that because we transferred Kamryn to another doctor, they were unable to see her and that they were no longer accepting new patients at that time. We immediately contacted the new pediatrician office in Raleigh to explain our dilemma. We were then told that we could bring our daughter in and that the charge would only be $300. By this point, we had contacted the NC Justice Center and Nicole Dozier, assistant project director of the Health Access Coalition, explained to us how we should respond to the pediatrician practice. In addition, Nicole contacted the NC Vaccination Program to request that the practice receive a site visit and education on the program s immunization policy and that Kamryn s medical file be included in a sample review. When we arrived for her rescheduled appointment a few weeks later fully intending to pay the $300, we were told that the immunizations would be free. At this appointment, Kamryn was able to receive all of her scheduled shots except for the rotovirus immunization, since she was now too old by a few weeks to receive it. CONCERNED PARENT RALEIGH, NC Through the Universal Childhood Vaccine Distribution Program (UCVDP program), vaccines are purchased, stored and distributed to health care providers at no charge. Well over 95 percent of health care providers who administer vaccines to children participate in this program. Health care providers may not charge the patient for the cost of the vaccine; however, they may charge vaccine administration fees at no more than the rates established by the State s Medicaid Program. Local health departments cannot charge patients an administration fee for state-supplied immunizations. For more details, you may contact the NC Immunization Branch at or ImmInfo@ncmail.net. MI HIJA Kamryn nació el 26 de noviembre del 2007 en Fayetteville, Carolina del Norte. Desde de múdanos a Raleigh en enero del 2008, continúe las visitas a mi doctor en Fayetteville para mi hija. A fines de enero, Kamryn desarrollo un resfriado del pecho que forzó a su padre y a mí a llevarla al Hospital Rex en Raleigh. Después de examinarla, se nos recomendó a un pediatra local en Raleigh para su próxima cita. Dos días después, fue examinada por una de los pediatras ahí. Después de la exanimación, escogimos esta clínica como su pediatra permanente dado la comodidad y que aceptaban Medicaid. En marzo del 2008, my hija tenía una cita para recibir sus inmunizaciones del cuarto mes. Cuando llegamos a tiempo para su cita, se nos informe que nuestra hija no podía ser vista porque su Medicaid todavía estaba registrado en el condado de Cumberland. Se nos dio la opción de pagar $1,700 por las inmunizaciones o llevarla de regreso a su pediatra en Fayetteville. No teniendo $1,700, decidimos contactar a su antiguo pediatra quien nos informo que no podía atenderla porque habíamos transferido a Kamryn a otro doctor y no estaban aceptando nuevos pacientes en ese momento. Inmediatamente contactamos a la oficina del nuevo pediatra en Raleigh para explicarle nuestro dilema. Se nos dijo que podíamos llevar a nuestra hija y que el costo solamente seria $300. Para esto, habíamos contactado al Centro Por La Justicia NC y Nicole Dozier, directora asistente del proyecto Coalición Acceso a la Salud, nos explico como debíamos actuar ante la práctica pediátrica. Además, Nicole contacto al Programa de Vacunas de Carolina del Norte para demandar que el lugar pediátrico recibiera una visita y educación sobre la nueva política de inmunizaciones del programa y que el perfil de Kamryn sea incluido como ejemplo. Cuando regresamos unas semanas después para su cita, con las intenciones de pagar los $300, se nos informo que las inmunizaciones serian gratis. Para este momento, Kamryn fue capaz de recibir todas sus vacunas excepto por la inmunización contra el rotovirus porque ella ya era demasiado grande por unas semanas para recibirla. MADRE INTERESADA, RALEIGH, CAROLINA DEL NORTE A través del Programa de Distribución de Vacunas Infantiles Universal (UCVDP program), las vacunas pueden ser compradas, mantenidas y distribuidas a proveedores de salud sin costo. Más del 95 por ciento de los proveedores de salud quienes administran vacunas infantiles participan en este programa. Proveedores de salud no le pueden cobrar al paciente por el costo de la vacuna, pero si puedo cobrar por la administración de la vacuna a no mas de los estándares establecidos por el Programa Estatal de Medicaid. Departamentos de salud locales no le pueden cobrar al paciente una tarifa de administración por inmunizaciones provistas por el estado. Para mas detalles, usted puede contactar a la Rama de Inmunizaciones de NC at o ImmInfo@ncmail.net Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 15

16 INFORMATION EXCHANGE TRIBUTE: Kay Zwan Community Activist By Arthur Vargas, Communications Intern - National MS Society Eastern NC Chapter KAY ZWAN is a member of the Yes We Can Wilmington Healthcare Reform Team. Her family circumstances and personal story have helped spotlight the inequities and conflicting interests in a complex, multi-billion-dollar industry. She has met these obstacles with an energetic and tireless advocacy, and she is open with her story and hopeful for the future. Her healthcare reform team has put together the Yes We Can Healthcare Reform Policy, specifying their policy aims and encouraging North Carolinians to forward the policy to their legislators. Zwan has petitioned Congressman Mike McIntyre, Senator Kay Hagan and Senator Richard Burr to support President Obama s agenda for healthcare reform. She believes the new administration can bring about the changes her family and so many others desperately need if it has support from Congress. These changes include healthcare costs that are proportional to income and quotes that are not based on pre-existing conditions. We must have coverage that is both affordable and portable, says Zwan. What the insurance companies don t tell you, in the fine print, is that if you have a catastrophic change in your health, the insurance company will drop you from the plan. Zwan has also worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for many years, and she s familiar with the lobbying power of this industry and the major role their money has played in healthcare s current setup. But it is the personal struggles of her family, the fact that her life story and mission are inseparable, that give her quest for reform its universal appeal and power. When her son was diagnosed with Kay Zwan (right) and family. Wolfram Syndrome, a terminal genetic disorder, the last thing she expected was to be denied by an insurance system that, ostensibly, exists to provide Americans with the support and security they need during a crisis. Of course, citizens like Zwan know this is not the case. Families like mine get stripped of their insurance and their constitutional rights when we or our family members meet with catastrophic disease, says Zwan. There is a conflict of interest here that most of society is waking up to, some under unfortunate circumstances. Next to the economy, healthcare reform has taken center stage at state and national levels. The nation is gearing up for some big adjustments and legislators, administrations, businesses and citizens will have to find common ground to build a future everyone can live in. RISE is another patient advocacy organization Zwan belongs to. The acronym stands for Respect, Impact, Support and Empower. All should be qualities of the next generation in American healthcare. Kay Zwan - Activista Comunitario Por Arthur Vargas, Interno de Comunicaciones - National MS Society Capitulo Carolina del Norte Oriental KAY ZWAN es una miembro de Si Podemos Equipe de Reforma Cuidado medico Wilmington. La circunstancias de su familia y su historia personal han ayudado ha demostrar las desigualdades y conflictos de interés en una industria complicada de muchos billones de dólares. Ella se ha encontrado con estos obstáculos con una advocación energética y sin cansancio, y es abierta sobre su historia y tiene esperanza en el mañana. Su equipo de reforma del cuidado medico has organizado la Política de Reforma del Cuidado Medico Si Podemos, especificando sus metas políticas e inspirando a gente en Carolina del Norte para promover la política a sus legisladores. Zwan ha peticionado al Congresista Mike McIntyre, Senador Kay Hagan y al Senador Richard Burr a que apoyen la agenda del Presidente Obama de reforma de cuidado medico. Ella cree que la nueva administración puede traer el cambio que su familia y muchos otros desesperadamente necesitan si tiene el apoyo del Congreso. Estos cambios incluyen costos del cuidado medico que sean proporcionales a ingresos y cuotas que no estén basadas en condiciones preexistentes. Debemos tener un seguro que sea barato y portable, dice Zwan. Lo que las compañías de seguros no te dicen, en literatura, es que si tu tienes un cambio catastrófico en tu salud, la compañía te sacara del plan. Zwan también ha trabajado como represéntate de ventas farmacéuticas por muchos años y sabe del poder e influencia de esta industria y el papel importante que el dinero de esta ha jugado en el estatus quo del cuidado medico. Pero han sido los esfuerzos de su familia, el hecho de que su vida y su misión son inseparables, que le dan a su búsqueda por reforma gusto universal y poder. Cuando su hijo fue diagnosticado con Síndrome Wolfram, un desorden genético terminal, lo último que ella pensó fue que fuera negada por un sistema de seguros que existe para proveer a americanos con el apoyo y seguridad que necesitan en una crisis. Por supuesto, ciudadanos como Zwan saben que este no es el caso. A familias como las mía se les quita su seguro y sus derechos constitucionales cuando nosotros o nuestra familia se encuentra con una enfermedad catastrófica, dice Zwan. Hay un conflicto de interés aquí que la sociedad esta descubriendo-algunos bajo circunstancias graves. Después de la economía, reforma del cuidado medico ha tomada la tarima principal a nivel estatal y nacional. La nación se esta preparando para ajustes grandes y legisladores, administraciones y negocios y ciudadanos tendrán que llegar a un acuerdo para crear un futuro en el que todos podemos vivir. RISE es otra organización de alcance de pacientes a la cual Zwan pertenece. El acrónimo significa Respect (Respeto), Impact (Impacto), Support (Apoyo) y Empower (Fortalece). Todas deben ser cualidades de la próxima generación de cuidado medico en América. 16 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

17 INTERCAMBIO DE INFORMACION On the Road with the NC Health Access Coalition By Hope Marasco, Outreach Coordinator for NCHAC A small-business health care forum hosted by the NC Health Access Coalition in May, OVER THE PAST few months, the NC Health Access Coalition has been on the road, crisscrossing the state to meet with local groups that are advocating for high-quality, affordable health care for all NC residents. If you d like to help organize a health-care forum or small-business roundtable discussion in your community, please contact NCHAC s Outreach Coordinator, Hope Marasco, at hope@ncjustice.org or (919) Here s where we ve been so far this year. February: WILMINGTON: Wilmington Yes We Can meeting March: HENDERSONVILLE: Solving Our Nation s Health Care Crisis - Two Different Approaches, sponsored by the Henderson County League of Women Voters April: BOONE: Health care forum at Appalachian State University sponsored by the Student Association of Social Work, Appalachian & the Community Together, and the Institute for Health and Human Services MORGANTON: Western Piedmont Community College, Healthy Burke Access to Care Task Force Meeting May: WILMINGTON: Wilmington Yes We Can meeting WILMINGTON: CAPE FEAR HEALTH Policy Council meeting DURHAM: A roundtable discussion about health reform for small businesses RALEIGH: Monday May 18th; 10am-12pm; NC Health Access Coalition quarterly meeting at AARP-NC office. Here are comments from two local partners with whom NCHAC recently teamed up to host local health care forums: We at the LWVHC believe that with multi-faceted involvement in the community and the building of collaborative educational opportunities, the League will have more success in achieving its goals than by going it alone. Martha Sachs, the Social Policy Chair/Advocate of the Henderson County League of Women Voters We had the good fortune to participate in two visits by representatives of the NC Health Access Coalition in our community during our formation and rollout process. Access to the services of an organization like yours is essential to our agenda. Put simply, if NCHAC didn t exist, it would need to be created. We would be diverting time and resources to make the long round-trip to Raleigh frequently and with far less substantive outcomes. Thanks to all of your team for your ongoing support. In addition, the exchange of ideas with others concerned with similar issues elsewhere in the state is likely to have beneficial results for all of us. William P. Graham, Chairman of the Cape Fear Health Policy Council De Viaje con la Coalición Acceso a la Salud de Carolina del Norte Por Hope Marasco, Coordinador de Alcance NCHAC LOS PASADOS MESES, la Coalición Acceso a la Salud NC ha estado de viaje por el estado reuniéndose con grupos locales que están interesados en cuidado medico de alta calidad y barato para todos los residentes de Carolina del Norte. Si a usted el gustaría organizar un foro sobre el seguro de cuidado medico o una mesa redonda de negocios pequeños para discusión en su comunidad, por favor contacte a Coordinador de Alcance NCHAC, Hope Marasco at hope@ncjustice.org o (919) Aquí hemos estado, hasta ahora, este año. Febrero: WILMINGTON: Reunión Si Podemos Wilmington Marzo: HENDERSONVILLE: Resolviendo la Crisis de Cuidado de Salud en Nuestra Nación - Dos Métodos Diferentes, por La Liga de Mujeres Votantes del Condado de Henderson Abril: BOONE: Foro del cuidado de la salud en Appalachian State University por la Asociación Estudiantil de Trabajadores Sociales, Appalachian & La Comunidad Juntos y el Instituto por Servicios de Salud y Humanos. MORGANTON: Western Piedmont Community College, de Junta sobre Acceso al Cuidado Medico de un Burke Saludable. Mayo: WILMINGTON: Reunión Si Podemos en Wilmington WILMINGTON: Reunión del Consejo Por Política de la Salud de Cape Fear DURHAM: Mesa redonda e discusión sobre reforma de la salud para negocios pequeños. RALEIGH: Lunes 18 de mayo; 10am-12pm; Reunión trimestral de Coalición Acceso a la Salud NC en las oficinas del AARP-NC. Algunos comentarios de nuestros aliados locales con los cuales NCHAC recientemente se ha juntado para promover foros locales sobre el cuidado medico: Nosotras en el LWVHC creemos que involucración a diferentes niveles de la comunidad y el desarrollo de oportunidades educacionales colaborativas, la Liga lograra mas de sus metas que el simplemente hacerlo por su cuenta. Martha Sachs, Jefe/Patrocinador de Política Social de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes del Condado Henderson Tuvimos la buena fortuna de participar en dos visitas por representantes de la Coalición Acceso a la Salud NC en nuestra comunidad durante nuestro periodo de formación y de primeras acciones. Acceso a los servicios de una organización como la de ustedes es esencial para nuestra agenda. Simplemente, si NCHAC no existiera, tendría que ser creado. Estaríamos invirtiendo tiempo y recursos para viajar hasta Raleigh frecuentemente con menos logros y resultados. Gracias a su equipo por su apoyo. Además, el intercambio de ideas con otros preocupados por los mismos asuntos en otras partes del estado es benefícienle para todos nosotros. William P. Graham, Jefe del Consejo de Política de la Salud de Cape Fear Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 17

18 INFORMATION EXCHANGE Repelen Prohibición Negociación Colectiva para Empleados Públicos en Carolina del Norte Por el Rev. Dr. William Barber, II, Presidente, Conferencia Estatal de los Capítulos del NAACP de Carolina del Norte HACE CINCUENTAANOS, en el 1959, no había ningún representante negro en la legislatura estatal de Carolina del Norte. El movimiento por los derechos civiles peleaba para deshacer Jim Crow y las muchas leyes y costumbres que eran patrones aceptados en Carolina del Norte. La legislatura, los miembros todos blancos, paso una ley draconiana anti-derechos civiles y anti-trabajadores llamada Declaración General Esta ley ilegaliza que se hable de las condiciones de trabajo en cualquier empleo publicó. Ahora recordemos, que en ese tiempo, los trabajos en el sector publico-barrenderos, cocineros, sirvientas de casa, albañiles-eran de los mejores que mis abuelos podían conseguir. Hoy, mientas la peor crisis económica de nuestros tiempos se agrándese, la Gobernadora Perdue y muchos de nuestros amigos en la legislatura se enfocan en sus dos deberes constitucionales: primero, el proveer de servicios necesarios de los gobiernos locales y estatales al pueblo; y Segundo, el buscar los fondos para pagar por esos servicios. Pero quienes proveen estos servicios? Oficiales de Policía. Bomberos. Paramédicos. Maestros. Trabajadores de salud mental. Conductores de autobús. Guardias de prisión. Estas son personas de verdad con familias y pagos por hacer. Muchos de ellos están a un cheque de la pobreza. Estos siervos públicos dedicados son la pega que mantiene a nuestras comunidades unidas. Quien sabe mejor como mantener y mejorar la moral de los trabajadores durante un tiempo de más demanda por servicios gubernamentales que nuestros trabajadores dedicados? Entonces le debemos preguntar a la Gobernadora Perdue, Senador del Senado Pro Tempore Marc Basnight y Líder de la Cámara Hackney- acaso no suena como una Buena idea el sentarnos con nuestros siervos publicas y preguntarles como usar mas eficientemente cada dólar que se gasta? A caso no tiene sentido el obtener su experiencia sobre como repartir el sacrificio para que no le caiga solamente a unos cuantos? Miles de trabajadores públicos están a punto de perder sus trabajos. Sus familias ya están siendo atemorizadas por los recolectadores de deudas y pagos de vivienda. Según el Bureau de Estadísticas de Trabajadores, el desempleo oficial era el 9.7% para Carolina del Norte en febrero del Aunque la información sobre los promedios de desempleo entre blancos y negros en Carolina del Norte para el mes pasado todavía no se esta disponible, sabemos que los números nacionales fueron 8.2% para trabajadores blancos, y el 13.8% para trabajadores negros. Como Carolina del Norte fue 2% peor que el promedio nacional, sabemos que más de uno en siete trabajadores negros están sin empleo, y que este número esta aumentando. Sabemos que cuando los individuos pierden su trabajo o no pueden encontrar empleo, se vuelven contra si mismos y contra sus familias. Suicidios, depresión clínica y violencia domestica aumentara. La temporada de esperanza que recientemente vivimos se convertirá rápidamente en un tiempo de desesperación. Pero hay un rayo de esperanza. Si trabajadores públicos locales y estatales tuvieran los mismos derechos que los trabajadores privados, de sentarse con sus empleadores y juntamente discutir la crisis como gente inteligente, creemos que el pensamiento colectivo de cómo reducir costos seria más justo. Si gente inteligente y razonable discuten un problema en común, creemos que podrían encontrar la manera de cómo esparcir el dolor. Si se les consultara a nuestros siervos públicos con respeto, creemos que habrá cientos de ideas creativas para mejorar la eficiencia. En fin, si deshacemos Jim Crow y la falta de respeto que demuestra contra las ideas y la integridad de nuestra fuerza de trabajo, creemos que podemos movilizar nuestro gran ejército de trabajadores públicos en un esfuerzo de reconstrucción masivo para echar para adelante a Carolina del Norte. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10) Una década después, el total eran $795 billones. Nada de esta historia les importo a los críticos del ARC, quienes vieron la ley como una excusa conveniente para explicar la caída de la industria de hipotecas no cualificadas. El antiguo Senador. Phil Gramm hasta argumento que el ARC causo el aumento en los prestamos no cualificados. Los simples hechos derrotan a los críticos del ARC. Primeramente, el ARC solamente cubre una pequeña sección de préstamos. Gobierna a bancos y tiendas de préstamos, y solamente en áreas donde tienen depósitos. Wells Fargo, por ejemplo, tenía una obligación del ARC en San Francisco en el 2007, pero no en Charlotte. Prestadores pesados de préstamos no cualificados, como IndyMac, Argent y Ameriquest nunca tuvieron una obligación con el ARC. El argumento en contra del ARC se basa en información que demuestran la gran cantidad de préstamos que fallaron en comunidades pobres. Pero si observamos bien vemos que los bancos operando bajo el ARC no hicieron los tipos de prestamos que fallaron. Un nuevo reporte de la Asociación de Reinversión Comunitaria de Carolina del Norte, Paying More for the American Dream (Pagando Mas Por el Sueno Americano), demuestra que el ARC ha cumplido con su meta original de introducir mas capital a comunidades de ingresos bajo a moderados. El reporte dice que el ARC necesita aun más poder en su capacidad de combatir la opción de préstamos no cualificados. La base de estas conclusiones proviene de investigación que incluye un análisis de los préstamos hechos en Charlotte. Dado a los límites de la información, los autores tuvieron que usar préstamos de intereses altos como un proxy para préstamos no cualificados. Aunque este hecho subestima el impacto de préstamos no cualificados, se mantiene un método capaz de comparar préstamos hechos dentro y fuera de ARC. El reporte se enfoco en clientes de bajo a moderado ingreso porque esta fue la población en la cual el ARC se enfoco. En Charlotte, bajo-a-moderado ingreson significa hogares de menos de $48,000 en ingresos. Lo que descubrimos nos demostró que el ARC hace una gran diferencia en muchas maneras. En Charlotte, por ejemplo: Solamente el 7.4 por ciento de prestamos ARC fueron de alto costo, pero el 24.6 por ciento de los prestamos no-arc fueron no cualificados. En áreas donde el ARC estaba activo, prestadores evitaron préstamos no cualificados. Los mismos bancos hicieron menos prestamos de alto costo en comunidades donde en ARC existía hicieron mas prestamos de alto costo donde este no estaba en efecto. Es mas, compañías hipotecarias y uniones de crédito fueron responsables de un porcentaje menor de prestamos no cualificados (18 por ciento) que los bancos y prestadores no obligados por el ARC. En las vecindades mayoría-minoría de Charlotte, la mayoría de los prestamos no cualificados se hicieron donde el ARC no estaba en efecto. Solamente uno de cada cuatro préstamos de alto costo fueron hechos por prestadores trabajando bajos los parámetros del ARC. Compañías hipotecarias, uniones de crédito y bancos sin depósitos locales no están bajo la regulaciones de ARC. En casi todo caso, esas instituciones parecen haber tomada esa oportunidad para hacer mas prestamos no cualificados. A nivel nacional, los números muestran la misma historia: la mayoría de los préstamos sin cualificación fueron hechos fuera del ARC. Comoquiera, como cualquier otra ley de 40 años, el ARC necesita una refrescada. El Acto de de Modernización de Reinversión Comunitaria del 2009 tiene muchas de las revisiones en potencia. Extiende el ARC a todos los prestadores hipotecarios, para que compañías como IndyMac jueguen bajo las mismas reglas que los bancos. También hace mandatorio que los bancos atiendan prestamos de minorías, y posiblemente cree un ARC para tarjetas de crédito. Mientras los críticos promueven al ARC como un villano, ha sido el salvador de individuos en comunidades de bajos ingresos. Merece mas capacidad y poder. 18 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias

19 INTERCAMBIO DE INFORMACION Can We Talk? Listening to Public Employees Makes Economic Sense By Rev. Dr. William Barber II, President, NC State Conference of NAACP Chapters FIFTY YEARS AGO, in 1959, there were no black representatives in the North Carolina state legislature. The civil rights movement to end Jim Crow was poised to dismantle many laws and customs that were the accepted patterns in North Carolina. The all-white legislature, determined to hold back this movement, passed a draconian, anti-labor and anti-civilrights law called General Statute The law makes it illegal for people to talk together across the table about working conditions in any public job. Now remember, at that time, jobs in the public sector as garbage collectors, cooks, housekeepers, groundskeepers, and other menial positions were among the best my grandparents could get. Today, as the worst economic crisis in our lifetime deepens, Governor Perdue and many of our friends in the legislature are focused on their two constitutional duties: first, to provide necessary state and local government services to the people; and second, to find the funds to pay for these services. But who provides these necessary services? Police officers. Firefighters. Paramedics. Teachers. Mental health workers. Bus drivers. Prison guards. These are real people, with families and mortgages. Many of them are only a paycheck from poverty. These dedicated public servants are the glue that holds our communities together. Who knows better how to maintain and improve employee morale during a time of more demand for government services than our dedicated employees? So we must ask Governor Perdue, Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight and House Leader Hackney doesn t it make good sense to sit down across the table from our public servants and get their ideas about how to get the most out of every tax dollar we spend? Doesn t it make sense to get their input about how to spread any sacrifice around so it does not fall unfairly on the least of these? Thousands who hold public jobs are in jeopardy of being laid off. Their families are already being hounded by bill collectors and mortgage companies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, official unemployment for North Carolina in March 2009 was 10.8%. That s 493,000 people. In April, the national unemployment rate for black workers was 15%. We know that when people lose jobs or can t find work, they turn on themselves and their families. Suicides, clinical depression and domestic violence will increase. The season of hope we just experienced will rapidly turn into a season of desperation. But there is a bright light of hope. If state and local government workers had the same rights as private workers to sit across the table from agency managers and jointly address this crisis as reasonable people, we believe the resulting collective thinking about how to reduce costs would be fairer. If reasonable people discuss a common problem, we believe they will figure out how to spread the pain evenly. If our dedicated public servants are consulted with respect, we believe there will be hundreds of creative ideas for improving efficiency. In short, if we repeal Jim Crow and the disrespect it shows for the ideas and integrity of our public workforce, we believe we could engage the vast army of public employees in a massive reconstruction effort to get North Carolina moving again. This is a reform that costs pennies to implement. Only Virginia and North Carolina prohibit their public employees from sitting across the table and proposing collective solutions to difficult policy and workplace issues. The 48 other states encourage their employees to be involved in decision-making. The 48 other states have learned that the more involved their employees are, the fewer grievances and problems. The more respect they show their public employees, the higher their productivity. The 48 other states have learned that mutual respect between management and employees results in less sick time and lower costs. Restoring contract rights to state and local public employees is a major step toward One North Carolina and it will save us millions. More important than saving money, I believe, is the human principle of love. If we treat our public employees with respect; if we encourage them to get collectively involved in addressing the greatest economic and social crisis our state has faced since the Great Depression; if we open the gates for their ideas, their enthusiasm, and their love for the state; I firmly believe we can transform this crisis into a period of great development for all North Carolinians. The immediate repeal of Jim Crow is the fastest, most effective, fairest AND CHEAPEST way to make sure the shock of possible layoffs and cut-backs is distributed fairly and in a non-racist way throughout the public workforce. Rev. Dr. William Barber II is the Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church and the State Conference President NC NAACP State Office. Visit Community News I Noticias Comunitarias 19

20 INFORMATION EXCHANGE IMMIGRANTS & THE ECONOMY Undocumented workers contribute more to the economy (in the form of taxes, economic growth provided by undocumented labor, and consumer spending) than they receive in benefits from various governments. 1 All undocumented workers pay sales taxes and property taxes (through rent or home ownership), and many also pay social security and income taxes. 2 Immigrants tend to complement the native workforce, rather than compete with it. 3 Studies show that legalization would likely improve wages for all workers. 4 Immigrants contribute to the Social Security system. Studies show that undocumented immigrants provide a net gain of $7 billion to the Social Security system each year. 5 Undocumented immigrants cannot receive any Social Security benefits. How has the economic downturn impacted immigrants? Non-citizen immigrants are much more vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy. The median annual income of non-citizen immigrant households fell 7.3 percent from In contrast the median annual income of all U.S. households increased 1.3 percent during the same period. 6 IMMIGRANTS & LEGAL STATUS 7 Over the last 50 years, immigration laws have become increasingly strict. In the past, many waves of immigrants passed relatively freely through ports of entry such as Ellis Island. Since the U.S. has tightened its borders, most of these same families would be turned away today. Undocumented immigrants are not all criminals just because of their immigration status. While entering this country illegally may be a crime, coming to the country legally and then overstaying a visa is a regulatory, or civil, violation, but is not a crime. Under the current system, people typically enter the US legally based on family relationships and employment relationships. The family-based system requires a sponsor (either a US citizen or permanent resident). These cases all result in a green card (legal permanent residency). The beneficiary must be within the nuclear family of the sponsor, so aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces are not eligible. Usually, the family-based system entails very long waiting periods up to 20 years in some cases because of a very strict quota system. There are no temporary visas for unskilled, essential workers who fill year-round jobs. Under our current system, for the vast majority of workers, there is no line to stand in to enter the U.S. legally. LANGUAGE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS 8 In the public sphere there are numerous terms used to describe immigrants, but it is important to think about the negative connotation these terms carry. The terms illegal and illegal immigrant automatically criminalize the person, instead of the action they are purported to have committed. Shortening the term in this way also stereotypes undocumented people who are in the United States as having committed a crime. An estimated 40 percent of all undocumented people living in the U.S. entered the country legally and then overstayed their visas. It is degrading to use the terms alien and illegal alien, which describe undocumented immigrants as inhuman outsiders who come to the U.S. with questionable motivations. LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS 9 Immigrant communities throughout North Carolina are living increasingly in a state of fear and insecurity due to programs in which local law enforcement agencies are actively enforcing federal immigration laws. These programs have led to the deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants statewide, often separating hardworking parents from their children. The Major Cities Chiefs - a national organization of police chiefs - note that Immigration enforcement by local police would likely negatively effect and undermine the level of trust and cooperation between local police and immigrant communities. 10 COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM What reforms are needed? Provide a Path to Citizenship Workers currently living in the U.S. should have the opportunity to adjust their status so that they can achieve permanent residence and citizenship. Protect Workers The nation needs a worker visa program that adequately protects the wages and working conditions of U.S. and immigrant workers and provides a path to permanent status. Reunite Families Families wanting to reunite should have their admission expedited, and those admitted on work visas should be able to keep their nuclear families intact. Restore the Rule of Law and Enhance Security Enforcement only works when the law is realistic and enforceable. While the immigration debate continues across the state, immigrants are facing increased discrimination. We need to fix this broken system through comprehensive immigration reform. 20 Community News I Noticias Comunitarias