Immigrant and International Advisory Council
The Immigrant and International Advisory Council was established to advise the Director and Executive Staff of the Department of Human Services regarding the human service needs of immigrant and international county residents. Representing diverse groups in Allegheny County, the Advisory Council identifies issues of concern, important changes in needs of the immigrant and international community and general ideas for improving the Department’s mission to be culturally competent and inclusive.
Members
The Advisory Council is comprised of members of the immigrant and international communities, consumers of DHS services, and representatives of service provider agencies that work with the immigrant and international communities.
Membership Terms
Advisory Council members, recommended by members of the international and immigrant community and appointed by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, commit to serving on the Advisory Council without compensation for a term of two years. After this two-year term, membership may be renewed. Any member who misses two or more quarterly meetings in one year without just cause may be removed from the Advisory Council.
Members will collectively identify issues and make recommendations to DHS for improving outreach and human service delivery to immigrants and internationals. They agree to serve as a channel for two-way communications between the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and the Immigrant and International Community. They will:
- Obtain input from and identify human service issues of immigrant and international consumers
- Bring human service needs of the immigrant and international community to the Advisory Council
- Work to develop recommendations for DHS to address issues of concern
- Share Department of Human Services information with the community
Meeting Schedule
One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Homestead Grays conference room
9 a.m. October 14, 2010
Agendas
January 2010
October 2009
July 2009
April 2009
January 2009
October 2008
Minutes
April 2010
January 2010
October 2009
July 2009
April 2009
January 2009
October 2008
Progress Reports
Cultural Competency Subcommittee progress report for January 2009
Officers
The officers of the Advisory Council are two Co-Chairs and a Secretary.
- The Co-Chairs preside at meetings and provide direction. They assist DHS staff in planning agendas for the quarterly and monthly meetings by collecting and conveying agenda items proposed by the Advisory Council.
- The Secretary ensures that monthly and quarterly Advisory Council meetings are scheduled and coordinated by DHS staff, and communicated to council members and to the public, as appropriate. The Secretary also reviews meeting minutes, which are compiled by DHS staff, and ensures that minutes are sent to Council members.
Structure
- The Allegheny County Department of Human Services calls quarterly meetings of the Advisory Council.
- In the interim the Advisory Council may, at its discretion, hold additional full Advisory Council or subcommittee meetings to gather information about issues and concerns, develop recommendations, and propose agenda for quarterly meetings. To gain greater insight into the issues facing the immigrant and international community and develop recommendations, Advisory Council members may invite and encourage non- Advisory Council members to participate in these additional meetings.
Administrative Oversight
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services is responsible for the overall notification and distribution of minutes for the Advisory Council meetings. All meeting minutes and formal documents will be kept on file at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.
Roster (January 2010)
Susana Abalos, Consumer
Jackie Abel-Stravropoulos, Goodwill Literacy Initiative
Yinka Aganga-Williams, AJAPO
Leslie Aizenman, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Refugee Services
Griselda Arellano, Consumer, Latino Social Services
Samaria Arzola, Latino Family Support Center
Courtney Macurak, Prospect Park Family Center
Riffat Chughtai, Pittsburgh Muslim Family Support
Mary Carrasco, Mercy Hospital, International and Community Health
Aya de Chellis, The Birth Circle
Najlaa Ebrahim, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Rufus Idris, Union of African Communities in Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
Danis Kubiak, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, K-12 ESL
Cathy Niebel, Catholic Charities, Refugee Resettlement
Doug Masiroff, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Khadra Mohammed, Pittsburgh Refugee Center
Leon Pamphile, Functional Literacy Ministry
Andy Pugh, Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals
Mi Ran Surh, Emmaus Community
AnDria Verde, Latino Social Services
Lindsay Losasso, Squirrel Hill Health Center
Claudette Lewis, DHS Staff
Charles Odah, DHS Staff
Barbara Murock, DHS Project Manager