Reducing the Impact of Immigration Enforcement Policies to Ensure the Health of North Carolinians: Statewide Community-Level Recommendations

Lilli Mann; Florence M Simán; Mario Downs; Christina J Sun; Brisa Urquieta de Hernandez; Manuel García; Jorge Alonzo; Emma Lawlor; Scott D Rhodes

doi:10.18043/ncm.77.4.240

Reducing the Impact of Immigration Enforcement Policies to Ensure the Health of North Carolinians: Statewide Community-Level Recommendations

N C Med J. 2016 Jul-Aug;77(4):240-6. doi: 10.18043/ncm.77.4.240.

Authors

Lilli Mann¹, Florence M Simán², Mario Downs³, Christina J Sun⁴, Brisa Urquieta de Hernandez⁵, Manuel García⁶, Jorge Alonzo³, Emma Lawlor⁷, Scott D Rhodes⁸

Affiliations

¹ research associate, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina lmann@wakehealth.edu.
² director of programs, El Pueblo, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina.
³ project manager, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
⁴ assistant professor, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Portland, Oregon.
⁵ project manager, Department of Family Medicine, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
⁶ project coordinator, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
⁷ doctoral student, School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
⁸ professor, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

PMID: 27422942
DOI: 10.18043/ncm.77.4.240

Abstract

Background: Research indicates that fear of immigration enforcement among Latinos in North Carolina results in limited access to and utilization of health services and negative health consequences. This project developed recommendations to mitigate the public health impact of immigration enforcement policies in North Carolina.

Methods: Our community-based participatory research partnership conducted 6 Spanish-language report-backs (an approach to sharing, validating, and interpreting data) and 3 bilingual forums with community members and public health leaders throughout North Carolina. The goals of these events were to discuss the impact of immigration enforcement on Latino health and develop recommendations to increase health services access and utilization. Findings from the report-backs and forums were analyzed using grounded theory to identify and refine common recommendations.

Results: A total of 344 people participated in the report-backs and forums. Eight recommendations emerged: increase knowledge among Latinos about local health services; build capacity to promote policy changes; implement system-level changes among organizations providing health services; train lay health advisors to help community members navigate systems; share Latinos' experiences with policy makers; reduce transportation barriers; increase schools' support of Latino families; and increase collaboration among community members, organizations, health care providers, and academic researchers.

Limitations: Representatives from 16 of 100 North Carolina counties participated. These 16 counties represent geographically diverse regions, and many of these counties have large Latino populations.

Conclusions: Immigration enforcement is a public health issue. Participants proposed developing new partnerships, identifying strategies, and implementing action steps for carrying out recommendations to reduce negative health outcomes among Latinos in North Carolina.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Community-Based Participatory Research
Emigrants and Immigrants / legislation & jurisprudence*
Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
Health Services Accessibility
Health Services Needs and Demand
Hispanic or Latino*
Humans
Law Enforcement*
North Carolina
Public Policy