The Multicultural Community Family Services (MCFS) is a community-based organization located in Upper Darby, PA. Our mission is to empower diverse individuals, children, youth and families to gain a greater capacity to succeed in their communities. MCFS works towards improving the social determinants of health for seniors, children, youth and families through the delivery of culturally targeted community health, education, advocacy, immigration supports, professional development and youth soccer programs. Annually, MCFS serves more than 1000 individuals and families residing within the greater Philadelphia area and representing more than 45 countries. Our areas of work include: Education Services, Community Health Services, Support Intervention Program, Community Outreach Servies, and Professional Development and Consulting Services. MCFS is a proud partner organization of the 2020 Census ensuring that African and Latinx community are counted in the counties we serve

Through our licensed home care agency (Attentive Home Care), and as an essential business, MCFS is supporting the community through COVID-19 by:
• Providing home care aide, case management, virtual group counseling, grocery shopping and other support services for seniors enrolled in MCFS Philabundance, Elders Circle and Community Health Choices programs.
• Supporting our home care workers by providing them with personal protective equipment and disinfectant supplies to ensure their safety and the safety of our seniors.
• Supporting the Community by sharing CDC, State and county information about Covid-19 with community residents via MCFS website

For more information and updated about our organization visit our website and Facebook.

The 2020 Census officially begins today, April 1, and no, this is not April fool, it's CENSUS DAY!

The time is now to stand up for our communities and be counted. The census only happens once every 10 years, and will impact each of us – our friends, our families, our neighbors, our communities – for the next decade and beyond. The census determines how much of our tax dollars come back to Pennsylvania to pay for our schools, roads, and hospitals – PA communities could lose as much as $2,100 for every person that is not counted. The census will also determines our political representation in Congress.

By now, many of you have received a letter in the mail that looks like the photo above. Be counted, and fill out the census online or via phone before April 30, 2020.

Remember:
• Fill out the census online at: www.my2020census.gov
• If you fill out the census online or by phone before April 30, 2020 you don't have to worry about a census worker coming to your door.
• Count everyone in your household! This means children of all ages, citizens, and non-citizens.

PICC members came together on March 7, 2020 to film a PSA on why immigrants and refugees need to take part in filling out the census. Check out their amazing work, and share the video far and wide! A HUGE thank you to PhillyCAM for their work putting this video together in the midst of closing their office and working remotely.

Together, we can make sure our communities get the resources they need to thrive. Together, #WeCount!

(Photo: Vox.com)

As we are all called to stay at home and practice physical distancing to keep our communities safe from the Coronavirus/COVID-19, Congress has been debating federal relief packages to help American households. Although we know this virus will impact everyone - regardless of immigration status, age, race, and economic status - Congress decided to pass a bill that excludes many immigrant families.

How will this bill impact immigrant communities?
• Expands unemployment insurance, including for independent contractors. This will be available to everyone with work permits (ie, DACA, TPS)
• Provides $1.3 billion for Community Health Centers for COVID-19 testing. These centers generally serve everyone, regardless of immigration status.
• The bill did NOT appropriate additional funding for ICE or CBP
• The bill has limitations preventing DHS from moving funds away from COVID-19, and prevents the use of Dept. of Defense funds for southern wall construction
• Excludes mixed-status families from recieving the $1,200 cash relief. This means that if even one family members is undocumented, the entire family, including US citizen children, are excluded from federal cash relief.

It is not too late for Congress to do the right thing!
Advocates across the country are continuing to pressure Congress to include immigrant communities in COVID-19 response. You can take action from home by calling your Representative and Senator and demand they include everyone.
• Give states the option to provide Medicaid to all individuals regardless of immigration status, including DACA recipients, TPS holders, green card holders, and undocumented individuals to ensure that they have access to testing and treatment.
• Provide cash benefits for all individuals who file taxes with an ITIN.
• Provide permanent Medicaid restoration of Medicaid for citizens of the Freely Associated States residing in the U.S.
• Automatically extend work permits for individuals with DACA and TPS and nonimmigrant visas for the same time period as the individual’s status or work authorization.

Find your Representative

Find your Senator

These are uncertain time for all Americans, especially for immigrant and refugee communities. However, by coming together and fighting for everyone's well-being we will emerge from this crisis stronger. To quote Helen Keller: "Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained."

In response to the unprecendented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania legislature and Governor came together to move the 2020 Pennsylvania Primary to June 2, 2020. This will help ensure the safety of poll workers and voters, and make sure everyone is able to fully participate in this critical election.

The deadline to register to vote for the 2020 Primary is now May 18, 2020.

Register to vote online! You are eligible to register to vote if you are: a US Citizen, 18+ yrs old, and a resident of PA. Remember, if you have moved since you last voted, you need to update your registration!

All registered voters in PA can request absentee ballots and mail-in ballots online for the Primary and General elections. Using a mail-in ballot means you can vote from home! Read a step-by-step explanation of the new mail-in ballot option. For all other election-related information, go to www.votespa.com.

Please Donate to PICC!

PICC depends upon your support. Please donate to PICC today to support our advocacy and organizing work to mobilize the immigrant vote, build immigrant leaders, campaign for pro-immigrant policies at the local, state and federal levels, and support the effective implementation of pro-immigrant public policies.