Immigrant Relations & Services

Photo of many different country flags together

LACOE's Immigrant Relations program supports school districts, students and parents with timely information and responds to school needs around immigration policies.

We facilitate the navigation of services for immigrant communities in the Los Angeles County by creating meaningful connections between nonprofit agencies and schools.

LACOE's Immigrant Relations program promotes compliance of policies that protect students and their families (AB 699, FERPA, AB 2121, and others) and can provide technical assistance to schools that need help in the implementation of those policies.

Policy and Guidance

2024 school-guidance-model-k12.pdf -Guidance and model policies to assist schools in responding to immigration issues
School Guidance Model Policies Quick Reference
CSBA Legal-Guidance-Immigration-2024.pdf
2024-11-27 Governor Newsom Letter to School Leaders.pdf
LACOE Reaffirmation Resolution
10029.2 Enforcement Actions at or Focused on Sensitive Locations
AB 699 Implementation Fact Sheet.pdf
Plyler Dear Colleague (PDF)
LA Unified Campuses as Safe Zones and Resource Centers for Students and Families Threatened by Immigration Enforcement
2018 School Guidance Model Policies K-12
City of LA Draft Ordinance Chapter 19
Motion to prevent city resources from being used for immigration enforcement
OAG Care Community Briefing
OAG January 10, 2025, Slide Deck

Toolkit and Training

Family Preparedness

Legal Service

Community Organizations

Know Your Educational Rights

Immigration Enforcement Actions at CA Schools. Guide for Students and Families:

Red Cards

Mental Health

Psychological First Aid for Displaced Children and Families
This is a flexible intervention; evidence-informed modular approach to assist newly arrived children and families to the US. Includes a set of tools to assist staff/volunteers in supporting displaced children and families through early transitions. (Brymer, M., Elmore Borbon, D., Frymier, S., Ramirez, V., Flores, L., Mulder, L., Ghosh-Ippen, C., & Gurwitch, R.. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2021)

10 Steps to Provide Trauma Informed Care for Afghan Refugees
Lessons learned from Lois Wessel, FNP, DNP, FNP, family nurse practitioner and a faculty member at the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Georgetown University, outlines tips for community preparedness.

Serving Children who are Torture Survivors
Webinar presented as a part of the National Capacity Building (NCB)project of the Center for victims of Torture (2008). Amber Gray (TASSC International) and Kate Porterfield (Bellevue/NYU).

Effects of torture, war and violence on children and youth
Resources for providers include: articles, webinar

Children, Torture and Psychological Consequences
Review of article by Alayarian, A. (2009). Torture: Journal of Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, 19(2), 145-156.

Assessment Measures
This National Capacity Building Project module on Child/Youth Resources includes various evaluation tools.

Trauma Symptom Checklist
Developed by John Briere, PhD in 1996, this measure assesses the effects of childhood trauma through the child’s self-report of trauma symptoms. Designed for use with children ages 8-16, but possibly applicable with 17-year-olds as well.

Undocubasic Needs Mental Health 

Medi-Cal Resources

English: Kids and Benefits one pager
LACOE_Medi-Cal_Information_Eng_Span.pdf
Children_s Health Outreach Initiative.pdf - CHOI administers contracts with community-based agencies, cities, and schools to expand health coverage for children in LA County.
Health4all 2024 Expansion Factsheet
Health4all 2024 Expansion Factsheet (Spanish)
MediCal_Asset_Elimination_Flyer3 - Starting on January 1, 2024, assets, such as bank accounts, cash, a second vehicle, and homes, will no longer be counted when determining Medi-Cal eligibility.
MEDI-CAL ADULT EXPANSION - Flyer
Adult Expansion Eligibility and Enrollment Plan
DHCS-Letterhead-Instructions

Supporting Newcomers

The Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Children is a program that offers free legal information.
Supporting the Mental Health of Unaccompanied Minors
Resources for UAM.pdf
Newcomer Toolkit - school toolkit for newcomer immigrant and refugee families
FINAL Draft - ENG Call Center Flyer
Unaccompanied Children Program Fact Sheet.pdf
2020-09-04 FINAL - Call Center Flyer SPN
Unaccompanied Minor Resource Guide.pdf
Unaccompanied Minor Resource Guide Spanish.pdf
Unaccompanied Minor Sponsor-Handbook.pdf

Videos

Unaccompanied Migrant Children

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the Resource Page
This resource page accompanies modules designed around systems, practices, and data-based decision-making in support of establishing family partnerships with caregivers of unaccompanied children and newly arrived families.

Unaccompanied Minors Frequently Asked Questions (added 03-Aug-2021). Information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) about unaccompanied minors.
Newcomer Students (added 03-Aug-2021)
Provides information and resources to support local educational agencies serving newcomer students and their families.

Additional Resources

Enrolling Your Child in School eng.pdf
Enrolling Your Child in School Spanish (RSM Edits).pdf
Rights of all children to enroll in school
SUN bucks - FAQ -SUN Bucks is a new program that helps families buy food when schools are closed for the summer
SUN bucks - FAQ (Spanish)
Public Charge Final Rule Video (English)
Public Charge Final Rule Video (Spanish)
Public Charge Flyers in Multiple Languages

CONNECT WITH US

Fredy Ruiz
Immigrant Relations Coordinator
(562) 419-5275
ruiz_fredy@lacoe.edu