Introduction to the Compassion Fund
As many immigrant parents express fear about sending their children back to school next week, Los Angeles Unified has set a goal of $1 million in donations for a “compassion fund” for families affected by federal immigration raids, Supt. Alberto Carvalho announced Tuesday. The funds donated to the LAUSD Education Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the school system, will cover needs from “A to Z,” said Carvalho during an annual event in which he makes home visits to encourage regular school attendance.
Purpose of the Compassion Fund
“We’re talking about support systems for kids who may have to go into court or employees,” Carvalho said while visiting two families that live near Sheridan Elementary School in Boyle Heights. “Additional transportation costs that may go beyond our school buses, anything the family may need. We are not restricting it. We want to hear what the challenge is, what the difficulty is, and then use the fund to bring ease, comfort and viable solutions for these families.” Food aid could be provided through other sources, Carvalho added: “We have very viable partners that have already committed to providing the food through information that we provide.”
Impact of Immigration Raids on LAUSD Employees
The district estimates that it employs at least 300 staff members who lack citizenship — all working legally with either Temporary Protected Status, for immigrants who were in danger in their native country, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, for immigrants who arrived as children. The employees are at risk of losing their right to live and work in the United States. Carvalho’s pledges — on top of measures already taken that include trying to establish safe zones around campuses — come as teachers-union members rallied last weekend demanding that the district do more to help immigrant families in the nation’s second-largest school district.
Response to Immigration-Related Hardships
At that union gathering, school board President Scott Schmerelson, who attended as a spectator, said he agreed with the intent of the union to help affected families and employees as much as possible and said that district officials would work with labor leaders. The impact of immigration raids present a new wild card to concerns about attendance as the Aug. 14 start of the school year approaches. Craig Sipes, the Sheridan Elementary principal, said the school is virtually all Latino and almost all families are low income. Economic activity in the neighborhood has declined sharply, he said.
Support for Families and Students
“We have some families who are scared to come out from their apartments, from their homes,” Sipes said. “Some kids are staying home from school. Parents are staying home from work within the community.” Sipes said the impact of immigration raids accelerated toward the end of the most-recent school year and it’s not clear what will happen next week. Parents are invited onto school grounds on the first day. After that, the school will do what it can to expedite pick up and drop off. His message to parents, he said, is that school will be a safe place — and the best place for their children to be.
Details of the Compassion Fund
The compassion fund is one way to address the families’ worries and needs. Online, the fund’s mission is described as addressing “acute hardships,” including those faced by:
- Students experiencing homelessness or housing instability
- Recently arrived students and families to LAUSD
- Families affected by unexpected personal or community emergencies
The fund aims to “provide discreet, flexible aid through school-based staff who know their communities best.” The spending could include support for emergency housing or relocation; food, diapers and school essentials; transportation to critical appointments; temporary caregiving or child supervision, and other “urgent needs that create barriers to learning and stability.”
Implementation and Response
Carvalho made it clear Tuesday that a central focus would be responding to needs of families affected by immigration raids and other immigration-related hardships. In initially discussing the compassion fund Tuesday morning, Carvalho said it already had amassed $1 million. Later, district staff clarified to say that the initial goal is to raise $1 million. The amount raised was not immediately provided. He spoke about the fund during the district’s annual “iAttend” outreach, which focuses attention on families struggling with transportation, academic and mental health issues that result in poor student attendance.
Conclusion
The LAUSD compassion fund is a crucial initiative aimed at supporting families affected by federal immigration raids and other hardships. By providing flexible aid and addressing acute needs, the fund seeks to bring ease, comfort, and viable solutions to these families. As the school year approaches, it is essential for the district to continue its efforts in establishing safe zones, providing support systems, and ensuring that schools remain a safe and welcoming place for all students.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of the LAUSD compassion fund?
The compassion fund is designed to support families affected by federal immigration raids and other hardships, providing flexible aid and addressing acute needs such as emergency housing, food, and transportation. - How much does the district aim to raise for the compassion fund?
The district has set a goal of $1 million in donations for the compassion fund. - Who is eligible for support from the compassion fund?
The fund will support students experiencing homelessness or housing instability, recently arrived students and families to LAUSD, and families affected by unexpected personal or community emergencies. - How will the compassion fund be implemented?
The fund will be implemented through school-based staff who know their communities best, providing discreet and flexible aid to address the unique needs of each family. - What is the district doing to establish safe zones around campuses?
The district is working to establish safe zones around campuses, although specific details on the implementation of these zones are not provided.
