Community Education

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Community education materials, organized by the topics below, can be downloaded from this page. They are listed in reverse chronological order, based on the date of publication.

Cross–Cutting Issues

• Sponsored Immigrants & Benefits in CA
(September 2004) (PDF)
Describes, in "Q & A" format, sponsors' obligations under the "traditional" and "enforceable" affidavits of support, and which immigrants must complete a form and which need not.

Also has links to additional resources on affidavits of support, public charge, and deeming.

• Will Using Benefits Hurt My Chances...of Getting a Green Card or Becoming a U.S. Citizen?
(March 2002) (PDF)

English • Samoan • Spanish • Tagalog • Vietnamese
Explains, in "Q & A" format, which benefits immigrants can use without jeopardizing their or their family member's eligibility for a green card or citizenship.

• Immigrants and Public Charge
(for advocates and service providers)
(September 22, 2004) (PDF version) Explains the Immigration and Natualization Service's May 1999 guidance clarifying public charge. This comprehensive overview is intended to help service providers and advocates understand the issue, and all the ways in which it affects different categories of immigrants and sponsors.

Program Eligibility

• Immigrant Eligibility for Food Stamps in California
(January 2006) Explains, in "Q & A" format, immigrants' eligibility for food stamps in California.

• State Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) (April 2005) Explains, in "Q & A" format, immigrants' eligibility for California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).

• Immigrants and the CHDP Gateway: Free Health Services for Children!
(November 2003) Explains, in "Q & A" format, the Child Health & Disability Prevention (CHDP) program which serves California's low-income children in the early detection and prevention of disease and disabilities.

• Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) & Immigrants in California
(March 2003) Explains, in "Q & A" format, the electronic benefits (EBT) system to be used by food stamp recipients to access their benefits. A number of California counties are also planning to use the EBT to disburse cash benefits.

• Immigrants and Education in CA – Qs and As re. AB 540
(updated April 2002) (PDF only) Explains, in "Q & A" format, how certain immigrant students in California can qualify for in-state tuition at the University of California (UC), California State Universities (CSU), and community colleges, regardless of immigration status.

• Immigrant Benefits Handbook: Citizens, Refugees & Asylees
(March 2002) (PDF - note: file size is large) A 16-page brochure that describes cash assistance, health, and food programs available to citizens, refugees, and asylees in California. This edition of the Benefits Handbook also applies to persons granted withholding of deportation or removal, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and Amerasians.

• Immigrant Benefits Handbook: Immigrants with Green Cards
(March 2002) (PDF - note: file size is large) A 16-page brochure that describes cash assistance, health, and food programs available to immigrants in California with green cards.

• Immigrant Benefits Handbook: Immigrants without Green Cards
(March 2002) (PDF - note: file size is large) A 16-page brochure that describes cash assistance, health, and food programs available to immigrants in California without green cards.

• Immigrants and Domestic Violence: Getting CalWORKs and Other Public Benefits
(May 7, 2001) Explains, in "Q & A" format, how abused immigrants can secure CalWORKs and other benefits to free themselves and their children from abusive situations.

(back to top)

Cross–Cutting Issues
• Sponsored Immigrants & Benefits in CA (September 2004) (PDF)	Describes, in "Q & A" format, sponsors' obligations under the "traditional" and "enforceable" affidavits of support, and which immigrants must complete a form and which need not. Also has links to additional resources on affidavits of support, public charge, and deeming.
• Will Using Benefits Hurt My Chances...of Getting a Green Card or Becoming a U.S. Citizen? (March 2002) (PDF) English • Samoan • Spanish • Tagalog • Vietnamese	Explains, in "Q & A" format, which benefits immigrants can use without jeopardizing their or their family member's eligibility for a green card or citizenship.
• Immigrants and Public Charge (for advocates and service providers) (September 22, 2004) (PDF version)	Explains the Immigration and Natualization Service's May 1999 guidance clarifying public charge. This comprehensive overview is intended to help service providers and advocates understand the issue, and all the ways in which it affects different categories of immigrants and sponsors.

Program Eligibility
• Immigrant Eligibility for Food Stamps in California (January 2006)	Explains, in "Q & A" format, immigrants' eligibility for food stamps in California.
• State Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) (April 2005)	Explains, in "Q & A" format, immigrants' eligibility for California's Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
• Immigrants and the CHDP Gateway: Free Health Services for Children! (November 2003)	Explains, in "Q & A" format, the Child Health & Disability Prevention (CHDP) program which serves California's low-income children in the early detection and prevention of disease and disabilities.
• Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) & Immigrants in California (March 2003)	Explains, in "Q & A" format, the electronic benefits (EBT) system to be used by food stamp recipients to access their benefits. A number of California counties are also planning to use the EBT to disburse cash benefits.
• Immigrants and Education in CA – Qs and As re. AB 540 (updated April 2002) (PDF only)	Explains, in "Q & A" format, how certain immigrant students in California can qualify for in-state tuition at the University of California (UC), California State Universities (CSU), and community colleges, regardless of immigration status.
• Immigrant Benefits Handbook: Citizens, Refugees & Asylees (March 2002) (PDF - note: file size is large)	A 16-page brochure that describes cash assistance, health, and food programs available to citizens, refugees, and asylees in California. This edition of the Benefits Handbook also applies to persons granted withholding of deportation or removal, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and Amerasians.
• Immigrant Benefits Handbook: Immigrants with Green Cards (March 2002) (PDF - note: file size is large)	A 16-page brochure that describes cash assistance, health, and food programs available to immigrants in California with green cards.
• Immigrant Benefits Handbook: Immigrants without Green Cards (March 2002) (PDF - note: file size is large)	A 16-page brochure that describes cash assistance, health, and food programs available to immigrants in California without green cards.
• Immigrants and Domestic Violence: Getting CalWORKs and Other Public Benefits (May 7, 2001)	Explains, in "Q & A" format, how abused immigrants can secure CalWORKs and other benefits to free themselves and their children from abusive situations.