What it means to be a HILSC ally
HILSC is only as strong as our partners: those other immigrant serving organizations that form our network.
HILSC is not a membership organization, so we do not collect dues from those in our network. Instead, we ask our partners to contribute their time, participation, and ideas. For our collaboration to work, HILSC’s partners need to be involved. But we know not every organization is equipped, has the time, or the interest to contribute equally to every project or initiative at HILSC. We ask that you do participate in convenings and working groups that are relevant to your practice, invite you to apply for HILSC grants that further your work, and have fun by attending HILSC’s more social gatherings, like our end of year party.Â
Become an Ally!
To learn more about becoming part of the HILSC network, submit an inquiry form.
Connection with Support Services
As many attorneys and advocates at legal service providers know, if a client doesn’t have access to food, shelter, medical care, transportation, they cannot focus on or put their time and energy into their immigration legal case. Their basic needs have to be met first. This is where social services comes in. But attorneys and other legal staff often don’t know where to even start to help their clients with these things.
Understanding what social services are available and whether immigrants are even eligible to access them is a complex undertaking. This is the specialty of social workers and social service providers. As legal advocates, knowing where to find information can be just as important, if not more, than actually knowing it.
How and Why to Integrate Support Services
Bringing social workers into legal settings is not a new phenomenon, social workers are present in child welfare systems, juvenile court systems, and schools. Immigration legal services have been somewhat slower to incorporate social services into their practices. Nevertheless, there is increasing recognition of the role trauma plays in the migrant journey and how many different factors can impact an immigrant’s legal case.
Our Programs
HILSC ADVOCATES FOR IMMIGRANTS THROUGH PRINCIPLED, VALUES-BASED COLLABORATION.
Holistic Legal
Services Capacity
Augment the capacity of immigration legal services providers to take an interdisciplinary approach in serving Greater Houston's diverse and growing immigrant population
Equitable
Access to Services
Advocate for efficient and equitable access to holistic legal and social services for all immigrants
Amplified
Voices
Increase awareness and understanding of immigrant needs and perspectives by providing a platform to elevate their voices and those of organizations working with them
Catalyzed
Ecosystem
Foster and facilitate a collaborative ecosystem of legal and social service providers, funders, and elected officials to benefit immigrants in the Greater Houston region
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