2. Population
Categories
The following are the research findings presented according
to the different populations served by The United Way of San Mateo County.
Whites:
Most of the social problems found in the County affect the white population, the largest
racial group. These include gang activity, homelessness, unemployment, poverty, mental
illness, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of affordable and reliable child care.
In addition to these social problems, the white population
in the Coastside has to deal with a geographical barrier that hinders access to social
services: the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Needless to say, this barrier affects all populations
living in the Coastside.) Many of the social services the Coastside population needs are
offered on the other side of these mountains. The commute time to the services can be very
long, especially if public transportation is used.
Overall, some of the needs mentioned by the white
population include: reliable and affordable transportation, especially in the Coastside;
emergency and transitional shelter; affordable housing; job retraining; mental health
services; youth development programs; family counseling; and affordable and reliable day
care.
Asians & Pacific Islanders:
In general, Asians seem to be reluctant to go outside their communities for aid because of
their traditional cultural value and behavior of relying on relatives, close friends, and
the immediate community for assistance with their problems. This is a cultural barrier
that can prevent Asians from accessing needed services and poses an obstacle to service
providers who try to determine their needs. In addition, a language barrier exists
affecting Laotians, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipinos, etc.
Filipinos tend to resent being "lumped" together
with Asians, Hispanics (because of the Spanish surnames), or with Pacific Islanders,
because it leads to misunderstandings or lack of knowledge about their community and their
needs. They wish to be distinguished as a distinct ethnic group: Filipinos.
Regarding diversity, Filipino participants mentioned that
there are about 87 dialects spoken in the Philippines and each one represents a distinct
cultural group. Consequently, diversity exists among Filipino immigrants.
The areas with the largest Filipino population include Daly
City, South San Francisco, and San Bruno. Also, the Filipino population is increasing
towards the South.
Filipino participants felt that the
disintegration of the family is the foremost social problem affecting their community.
These participants tended to agree that the disintegration of the family was to a great
extent the result of the clash between their traditional culture and the dominant culture
in the United States. The values and behavior traditional in their cultures are in
dissonance with the dominant cultural values and behaviors in this country.
In the traditional Filipino culture, the family tends to be
far more important than the individual. Some participants felt that as they, or their
children, become acculturated to the dominant culture in the United States their focus
shifts from the family to the individual. Within the same family, immigrants and their
children or grandchildren exhibit different behavior patterns causing a great deal of
tension and upheaval. Parents often hear their children say, "That is not the way it
is done in the United States (example, spanking misbehaving children)". According to
participants, one of the results is that they are no longer respected and obeyed by their
children.
Also, according to participants, role reversals occur when
parents or grandparents who do not speak English become dependent on other, often younger,
family members. The dependent member loses their traditional family role, status and
authority as elders within the family. Grandparents, for example, become, in many cases,
the family babysitter and lose their positions as "elders."
Consequently, and overwhelmingly, Filipino participants
mentioned the need for parenting classes that would provide assistance in understanding
the cultural values and behaviors of the dominant culture in this country as it could
affect the upbringing of their children.
The following are some of the social problems affecting the
Filipino community: family life, alcohol and drug abuse, mental problems, gang activities,
and domestic violence.
The participants felt that their community needs a center
with a comprehensive program of services. These are some of the services they need the
most: alcohol and drug abuse treatment, adult development services, health education and
training, youth development services, advocacy and public education, and information and
referral services.
Black/African Americans:
Participants felt their East Palo Alto community is isolated from the social services they
need. It was their opinion that the services were not being provided in their community
because service providers fear going into East Palo Alto, "fear of doing
outreach." The services that are provided tend to be fragmented; coordination and
communication among them seems to be lacking.
A perceived geographical barrier to services, compounded by
lack of transportation, exists in East Palo Alto; this barrier is highway 101. This
community feels they lack the social services they need. The transportation needed to
reach the places where the services are offered is lacking. Many residents are forced to
travel by bus, which takes a long time. In some cases, family members have to take time
off from work to provide transportation.
Culturally sensitive programs are needed that address
health education. In general, these programs need to deal with the health problems
affecting the Black/African American community. For seniors, these services need to be
delivered taking into account their social roles as community elders.
Black/African Americans and Hispanics in East Palo Alto
need assistance in dealing with the tension and conflict that exist among them. This seems
to be caused in part by a language barrier and lack of cross-cultural understanding. Also,
the demographics are changing: The number of Hispanics and Pacific Islanders is
increasing. The number of young Black/African American males is decreasing; they are dying
or moving out.
Among the services this community seems to need are job and
entrepreneurial training services, employment services, an information network service,
and a local residential drug treatment center.
Hispanics:
A large and diverse Hispanic population exists in the North County area, East Menlo Park,
East Palo Alto, Redwood City, and the Coastside.
The following are some of the general problems faced by
Hispanics: being alone without family or friends, misunderstanding of how things are done
in this country, and the lack of documents, such as working permits.
According to participants, all Hispanic national groups are
accustomed to competing against each other, in soccer for example, and the rivalry tends
to persist after they immigrate to this country. This same rivalry seems to prevent them
from helping each other more. A major concern of the Hispanic participants was the
disintegration of the family. The disintegration was described the same way the Filipino
participants described it: The result of the clash between their traditional culture and
the dominant culture in the United States. The values and behavior traditional in their
cultures are in dissonance with the dominant cultural values and behaviors in this
country.
According to several agency representatives, the
Spanish-speaking population of the Coastside is isolated from the service system. This
population is mostly a farm labor community that lives year-round in the area; some may be
long-time residents. They make a living moving from one industry to another industry,
according to seasonal changes.
Cultural and language differences, as well as family pride,
were mentioned as possible factors that kept the Hispanic community in the Coastside
isolated. Yet there is a need for services especially for after-school activities for the
children. (This seems to be a need for all the children and young adults in the
Coastside area.)
Overall, the services needed by the Hispanic population
include job training, employment services, literacy classes, including English as a second
language, low income housing, health and dental services, and recreational and educational
programs for the youth.
Notwithstanding all the social services needs of the
Hispanic community in the county, many agency representatives felt that, in general, it is
not very difficult to access the Hispanic community.
Native Americans:
The Native American population was hardly ever mentioned by the participants in the focus
groups.
Minority Youths:
Minority youth, as well as non-minority youth, are in need of recreational activities,
especially for after-school hours. Parents of minority youth, immigrants in particular,
feel that the youths have an excessive amount of liberty. Because parents are working, the
youths lack supervision. This liberty, coupled with the other issues faced by their
families, seems to lead to problems, such as gang activities, dropping out of school, etc.
Among Filipinos, a concern exists about the level of
education their youth will attain. It seems it is easy for them to find a job, usually in
the service industry, which pays low wages, and they are not focusing on obtaining an
education. In the Philippines, they would have been expected to study and not work at all.
Consequently, the fear exists that the standard of living will decrease for future
generations of Filipinos living in this country.
Overall, recreational activities and a safe place to go to
after school are needed.
Children & Youth:
The need for and lack of child care services was described as a problem affecting all
ethnic/racial communities and locations.
Overwhelmingly, the need for child care service was
mentioned as the most pressing need for women, especially poor and single women, and their
children. Many children whose mothers are forced to work but cannot pay for child care
become latch-key kids. The number of children found around schools, public libraries, and
malls after school hours, waiting for their parents to pick them up, has been increasing.
Also, the increase in gang activities seems to be closely tied to the lack of both child
care and the availability of after-school activities for children.
For the middle class, the problem is the lack of quality
care and the time during which the service is provided; more flexible hours are needed.
Elderly:
Yet this is a The elderly population is increasing and has its needs for social services.
Yet this is the population viewed as having less of a need for services than the children
and youth. The perception is that, in general, they are better off and are being taken
care of; the problems with the children and youth are getting worse.
Many senior citizens centers exist in the County, which
provide a variety of services to this population. In contrast, centers providing for adult
day health care are needed.
It seems that Hispanics and other minority groups do not
feel comfortable participating in the social activities offered by senior citizen centers
where participants are mostly white; they may not feel welcome. Outreach needs to be done
to involve the different ethnic and racial groups who have not been accessing the
services. Services need to be culturally attuned.
In nursing homes, interpreters who speak other languages
are needed. Information translated into other languages, including Chinese, Spanish, and
Tagalog, are also needed.
Women & Girls:
The problem for women, and their children, is lack of subsidized child care. Without
subsidized child care women cannot find and keep a job because the cost of child care is
usually more than what they receive for their work. Other services they need include
mental health, prenatal care, and parenting.
Services needed for girls who become pregnant include
prenatal care and parenting. Also needed is a program that encourages girls who are
mothers to complete their education.
Homeless:
Overall, participants agreed that the number of homeless and those threatened with
homelessness has increased throughout the County. The homeless population includes the
working poor, veterans, immigrants, and the disabled.
Services needed include all the basic needs, shelter,
employment services, mental and physical health services.
Poor or Marginal Poor.
Poverty is a widespread problem. It is observed across all the populations and
geographical areas served by The United Way. Yet poverty seems to be most acute in the
City of San Mateo east of Bayshore, Redwood City, East Palo Alto and the Coastside.
The demand for social services has increased among the
working poor who are living on the edge, just one step away from homelessness.
Unemployed
Given the weak economy and the increase in unemployment, many families and individuals
across diverse social strata are in danger of finding themselves in poverty. The
possibility of losing one's job is causing a great deal of stress on individuals and their
families.
Consequently, retraining is the service most needed.
Teen Parents:
Teen parents need classes on parenting. They also need programs that would encourage and
help them return to school and finish their studies.
Single Parents:
Demand for health care services seems to have increased among single parents, even if the
parent is employed. The need for child and youth care is also needed.
Abused Children:
Abused children as such were not mentioned. [Children who have too much free time are
having serious problems and are in need of help. With the disintegration of the family,
these numbers are increasing. Children need a safe place to go to and constructive and
interesting activities to do. Currently, children are running away from home and seeking
refuge with a friend's family, getting involved in gang activities, abusing drugs and
alcohol, etc.]
Battered Women:
The problem of battered women was barely mentioned, yet when mentioned, it was said that
services for these women are needed. No particular geographical area or population was
mentioned. The problem seems to be exacerbated during times of economic stress.
Abused Elders:
Abused elders were hardly ever mentioned by the participants in the focus groups.
HIV Infected:
The HIV infected population was barely mentioned. Programs for AIDS are viewed as well
funded by foundations and by the government.
Classes to increase awareness and knowledge about AIDS are
needed for youth. This is a population that seems to view the possibility of contracting
AIDS as something that can happen to someone else and not to them.
Physically Disabled:
The most pressing need for the physically disabled is transportation. The need is county
wide.
Mentally Disabled:
An increase in demand for services has been observed among the mentally ill. Problems
include: unemployment, homelessness, poverty, and lack of access to services. The number
of mentally disabled in shelters has increased.
Ex-Offenders:
An increase in need for economic services has increased among ex-offenders. Having a
conviction record is a barrier to finding employment and housing.
Immigrants & Refugees
Among some immigrants, an increase in anti-immigrant sentiment and a lack of tolerance for
ethnic and racial diversity seems to be causing a great deal of fear for their safety and
welfare, which seems to hinder their access to needed social services.
An increase is foreseen in the demand for services for
children born to undocumented women. This is a result of a policy to provide health care
to undocumented pregnant women. It is estimated that 3,000 more babies will need services
than do now.
A different issue affecting the immigrant population is
their lack of knowledge about their legal rights. A problem these immigrants face is labor
exploitation.
Service providers are seeing more immigrants who do not
speak English and are also illiterate in their primary language. The problem also seems to
exist among some English speaking clients.
In East Palo Alto, conflict and tension exist among
Black/African Americans and Hispanics. Many of these Hispanics are immigrants, including
an undetermined number who may be undocumented. In the Coastside, tension seems to exist
among Whites and Hispanics, especially recent immigrants. The situation in both
communities requires assistance in conflict resolution.
Because of the increase in anti-immigrant sentiment and a
lack of tolerance for ethnic and racial diversity in this country, and in California in
particular, some participants felt that there was a need for public education to change
the negative perceptions about immigrants. There is also a need to learn about other
cultures and about the benefits immigrants bring to society.
Lesbians/Gay Men:
The lesbians/gay men population was hardly ever mentioned by the participants in the focus
groups.
Veterans:
Since 1990, a new wave of Filipino immigration, comprised of elderly World War II
veterans, has been coming to this country. These elders are in need of advocacy services
for housing and veteran benefits. These veterans often need to team together to find
affordable living space. Many come to this country with dreams of an easy life and find
themselves in poverty.
Veterans, in general, are among the population that is
homeless and in poverty, a problem that is widespread and county wide. |