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Although I’m sure it will take heat from people who think that it’s a cover to help illegals, this seems like a decent idea.
A panel of state agencies wants to create “welcoming centers” for immigrants, allowing them to apply for job training, health care and other services at one location.
The proposed state-funded centers would be based in suburbs and in Downstate towns with recent spikes in immigrants, according to the panel’s report being released Wednesday.
The last four or five small-town, Downstate restaurants I’ve eaten at (far outside Springfield in previously all-Anglo areas) had a surprisingly large number of Latino, Southastern European and even Arabic employees, so just based on that admittedly cursory observation, the help may be needed.
But, as always with this administration, there’s a big announcement with no funding attached.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who commissioned the two panels, is endorsing the recommendations but has not yet committed any funding, a spokesman said.
Grace Hou, co-chair of the state agency panel and assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, acknowledged that dwindling money in the state budget might make it difficult to secure expanded funding for immigrant integration.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 8:50 am
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It isn’t a bad idea as long as it is for legal immigrants only.
Comment by Lovie's Leather Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 8:54 am
Talk talk talk.
This idea has been around for years. But instead of doing it for immigrants, it has been discussed for those wanting to start new businesses, or move to Illinois.
We’re talking years of talking with nothing to show for it.
It takes money and a dedicated intra-agency staff empowered to make decisions for their agencies to create these welcoming centers.
It hasn’t happened because no one has been interested in shepherding this through to completion. There isn’t enough staff. The wrong people are selected to sit on the committees. There has been no leadership.
Something is better than nothing. If Blagojevich can crack enough skulls and throw enough fits over this, perhaps we will see something come of this.
Until then, what we have is another very good idea unable to come to fruition due to how government operates.
Talk, talk, talk.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 9:21 am
Here’s a crazy idea: Why don’t we as a state pay for the programs that have already been created and expanded before we start trying to find funds for new programs.
Oh, and as another off-the-wall idea, why don’t we show we’re able to competently staff, run & manage existing programs before going off again into unfamiliar territory.
If and when both of those are met, then (and only then) would this be an excellent idea…
Comment by Animous Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 9:44 am
Blagojevich has been touting his New American initiative, proposing assistance to legal and illegal immigrants in obtaining state services, health care, education. Above seems to be part of a Blago pro-immigrant stance which his political handlers apparently believe may benefit him in the future. A substantial number of new, not previously eligible Allkids recipients are illegals, I believe. The state picks up the entire cost of that population. Allkids is a huge benefit for illegals. That’s not an accident.
I don’t think Blago has given up his presidential ambitions.
As to the value of these programs, why should immigrants, illegal or illegal, be singled out in the provision of state services. We are all immigrants by family history of course, so exactly who is Blago helping? Future political supporters, I would imagine. A not very subtle way of spending our money on the next campaign.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 9:46 am
“Dwindling money in the state budget” Boy is that the understatement of the day.
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 9:49 am
A cheaper alternative might be to set up a couple of teams to do this work. Have them travel around the state and be in certain areas at certain times. A little advertising in the community, some marketing to local churches and community groups…and voila. I believe the Secretary of State use to do similar outreach with senior groups and the such…
It’s a lot cheaper than building a center and permanently staffing it.
Comment by Greg Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 10:01 am
Great ideas, I hope someone is listening.
Vanilla Man hit it on the head though. However, I still have hope.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 10:27 am
Where is all this money going to come from?
What other state agencies are left to raid?
What about thousands U.S./Illinois citizens who do not have health benefits, what do they do?
WE ARE SO SCREWED!
Comment by Apocalypto Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 11:10 am
Illinois already has all these programs at the HFS resource centers and IDES. All the state agencias do serve All the people. Most agencies have many bilingual employees and IDES web page has a Spanish language option. By tribalizing people into different groups, Mr. Blogojevich is not bring us together, he is creating boundaries. Unfortunate that many will believe he is assisting integation rather than promoting segragration.
Comment by anoni Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 11:33 am
Par for the course, Rod. Par for the course.
Comment by Hal Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 11:40 am
I’m all for helping immigrants, but the centers are a non-starter for the following reasons.
The money is not there.
Taking staff from existing state facilities will hurt service to non-immigrants.
Staffing the centers will be difficult due to the need to find enough staff who can speak the non-English language. Not only do you need primary staff, but also back-up staff and staff for the regular state office.
It will take years to get physical centers up and running.
The politics in deciding where the centers go and who they serve will be horrible.
Illegal immigrants will be very relunctant to use the centers due to fear of government.
It duplicates existing services provided by ethnic based service providers, ie. Polish American Association, Chinese Mutual Aid, etc.
My suggestion is to increase funding to the ethnic based service providers and improve service at regular state offices.
Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 2:22 pm
Like I said, this program does have merit… if it is for legal immigrants only! There is nothing wrong with immigration or immigrants as long as they come to this country legally! Why should the government criminalize something and then give people an incentive to do it?! It is like making guns illegal and then giving people free gun-shooting lessons! It would be absurd and insane if a program like this covered illegal immigrants. Is this what NAFTA was meant for…? They get our jobs, we get their unemployed!
Comment by Lovie's Leather Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 3:41 pm
Is this service available to citizens now? If it is then don’t legal immigrants already have this service available? And if the service is not already available to all citizens, then why are we considering a program for one target group instead of all citizens?
Comment by anon Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 4:10 pm
From what I have heard the services are already available. The concept is putting them together in a “one-stop” location. The reasoning is that the service will be provided in a culturally appropriate manner in the immigrants’s first language. I’m open to this idea but I think the services are best provided by community based organizations.
What I can’t figure out is why one panel of experts is stressing the importance of the immigrants learning English while the second panel of state agencies is proposing one-stop centers to making it easier for them to get by without learning English. The agencies can’t be for it because it will be more work for them and spread existing resources even thinner. My gut is someone in the Governor’s office thought it up and agencies need to salute the flag whether they like it or not.
Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 4:30 pm
Sure. Hairdo can promise more for illegals; but still can’t fund the folks, State workers, who just happen to be U.S. & Illinois tax-paying citizens pension systems. Good job, er, Job those folks again.
Comment by ole buddy Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 5:02 pm
Just a silly question - Where is the staff for this boondoggle coming from?
Comment by huh? Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 6:28 pm
If we could only get Tom Tancredo to run the program….
Comment by Lovie's Leather Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 7:40 pm
You don’t have to apply for Allkids in person; the application can be done by mail. We already have numerous sites giving these apps out (and getting paid for it). All Blagoyevich has to do is contract these immigrant services to community based organizations. Staffing problems and future pension problems are solved and you look like a hero to the downtrodden. The downside is noncitizens can’t vote. If Grace Hou was smart, she’d ditch the state and turn lobbyist for the community org she came from.
Comment by Emily Booth Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 7:54 pm
I like the concept, but it will not work with this administration. It sounds like another empty promise similar to his early campaign to assist low-income communties. The Governor and state agencies arrived in various towns(with a lot of press), and then never fulfilled their promises to focus on the needs of the communities.
Additionally, DHS local offices are very under-staffed. I am hearing a lot of complaints from my clients that they are not gaining access to services in a timely manner or DHS staff losing required paperwork. Why doesn’t the Governor’s Office focus on fixing these problems? More people are being hurt by these issues. The answer is probably that it is not news worthy.
Comment by So Blue Democrat Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 9:41 pm