An Innovative Approach to Serving Mayan Communities in South Florida A project of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Migration and Refugee Services Presentation by Lyn Morland and Cecile Motus for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grantee meeting, Los Angeles, March 18-19, 2008 Photo courtesy of NPR’s Speaking of Faith

Access to health and mental health care for Mayan language- speakers in the US 500,000 Guatemalans reside in the US - a Mayan language is the first language for 8, ,000 Guatemalans reside in the US - a Mayan language is the first language for 8,000 Majority are in South Florida Majority are in South Florida Service providers assume ability to speak Spanish, or use family, friends, children as interpreters Service providers assume ability to speak Spanish, or use family, friends, children as interpreters Gap in resources & trained interpreters for this population Gap in resources & trained interpreters for this population Increasing collaboration between service providers and indigenous leaders, & building capacity, can help bridge gap Increasing collaboration between service providers and indigenous leaders, & building capacity, can help bridge gap

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Long history of advocacy for the rights of migrants Long history of advocacy for the rights of migrants MRS resettles ~ 30% of all refugees, serves unaccompanied refugee children, victims of human trafficking, undocumented children in federal custody MRS resettles ~ 30% of all refugees, serves unaccompanied refugee children, victims of human trafficking, undocumented children in federal custody Strong presence at local level re advocacy & services through religious communities & Catholic Charities Strong presence at local level re advocacy & services through religious communities & Catholic Charities PCMR supports the Mayan Pastoral Project, a leadership formation program reaching 33 dioceses with Mayan community presence, including Indiantown, Jupiter, Homestead in South Florida PCMR supports the Mayan Pastoral Project, a leadership formation program reaching 33 dioceses with Mayan community presence, including Indiantown, Jupiter, Homestead in South Florida BRYCS ( provides technical assistance to those serving immigrant children & families – develops training curricula, Toolkits & other educational materials BRYCS ( provides technical assistance to those serving immigrant children & families – develops training curricula, Toolkits & other educational materialswww.brycs.org

Innovative Approach… Year 1: Outreach to Mayan Leadership, Service Providers & Gaps Analysis Year 1: Outreach to Mayan Leadership, Service Providers & Gaps Analysis Year 2: Interpreter “Train the Trainer” Curriculum & Training Year 2: Interpreter “Train the Trainer” Curriculum & Training Year 3 : Free Web-based Toolkit Year 3 : Free Web-based Toolkit √ Language Identification Card √ Key health concepts in Mayan languages √ Visual tools for communication √ Educational Resources √ List of Trained Interpreters Annual Maya Leadership & Service Provider Conferences

Project Partners Corn Maya, Inc. Corn Maya, Inc. Maya Pastoral Project Maya Pastoral Project Guatemalan-Maya Center Guatemalan-Maya Center Asociación Guatemalteca Americana, Inc. Asociación Guatemalteca Americana, Inc. Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Education – Florida Migrant Interstate Program Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Education – Florida Migrant Interstate Program

Examples of Services & Benefits to Mayan Families Continuing annual leadership training for Maya community leaders to “educate our community about life in this country, immigration laws, driving rules, health issues, and education.” (Benefit: 40 affiliated Maya communities now involved in pastoral care, immigration counseling, weekly community gatherings, sessions on social welfare and education systems and health and welfare issues of Maya families in the USA) Continuing annual leadership training for Maya community leaders to “educate our community about life in this country, immigration laws, driving rules, health issues, and education.” (Benefit: 40 affiliated Maya communities now involved in pastoral care, immigration counseling, weekly community gatherings, sessions on social welfare and education systems and health and welfare issues of Maya families in the USA) Creation of a list of translators who speak five of the Mayan languages. (Benefit: MRS is now using the list to outreach to Mayan women and children in the Children Services Program.) Creation of a list of translators who speak five of the Mayan languages. (Benefit: MRS is now using the list to outreach to Mayan women and children in the Children Services Program.)