Thread: Greeley -Social service agencies brace for emergency demand

http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/2006 ... /112130074

Social service agencies brace for emergency demand

Chris Casey, (Bio) ccasey@greeleytrib.com
December 13, 2006

Social service agencies grappled with guesswork Tuesday, bracing for demands from distressed families but not knowing how widespread the needs would be.

In a worst-case scenario, many children will suddenly require caretaking and housing if left without a parent.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement swept about 300 Greeley workers from their Swift & Co. jobs in plant raids Tuesday morning.

"Our wish would have been they would have let us know beforehand," said Judy Griego, director of Weld County Social Services. "We have kind of collapsed around this situation internally. ... Frankly, we don't know how many kids are involved in this now. It's kind of guesswork."

The top priority, Griego said, is to find relatives or friends of detained parents. They would be first-choice caretakers, while the county provides "wraparound services" such as emergency food or financial support.

"If there's no other recourse," Griego said, "we will have to seek some protective custody with courts to at least get temporary foster care for youngsters. That's the last resort."

The Weld County commissioners have contacted all foster-care facilities in Weld and Larimer counties.

"We notified them that we could have several children that could need care," said Mike Geile, board chairman. "... We're working very closely with the schools to see if we can figure out where these children might be."

Recent legislation stiffened services to illegal immigrants, but emergency protective service of a child is a case that supersedes the regulations, Griego said. "We are directed by the courts to serve a child."

United Way of Weld County hadn't taken many calls by midday Tuesday, but the agency expected an upswing in requests.

"We are the link to direct services," said Tracy Hays, director of United Way 211, the agency's bilingual branch. "... We will tell them what services are able to equip their needs. Sometimes there is not an answer, but we try to find those answers."

Catholic Charities operates the Guadalupe Shelter at 1516 N. 25th Ave. in Greeley. "My guess is we have room for probably 20 people," said Helen Somersall, regional director.

Catholic Charities of Greeley also offers an immigration lawyer and emergency assistance to help pay utilities, prescriptions and identification certificate expenses. This time of the month, however, the emergency assistance is typically depleted.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

* Weld County Social Services, call 352-1551, Ext. 6211, 6213 or 6214, or go to http://www.co.weld.co.us/departments/so ... vices.html.

* United Way of Weld County, 353-4300.

* United Way 221, 407-7066.

* Catholic Charities, , 2500 First Ave., Greeley, 353-6433.

* Weld Food Bank, 1108 H St., 356-2199.

* St. Peter's Catholic Church, 915 12th St., 352-1060. Food pantry is open from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

If they had been notified, then they would have told the illegals. Geez.

Of course now us taxpayers have to flip the bill! Sorry but we all know employees there knew that some where illegals and did nothing, I don't think we taxpayers should be paying for any of this insanity! Swift should be held accountable for the whole cost!