This study examines how the Refugee Children Center improves access to affordable and culturally responsive legal services for refugee families, particularly unaccompanied minors and recently arrived asylum seekers. In the United States, refugees face significant legal barriers, including a lack of guaranteed representation, complex court procedures, and strict filing requirements. These challenges are compounded by language differences, trauma, and limited financial resources, making access to legal support critical for achieving positive outcomes. Guided by access to justice theory and conflict theory, this research explores how structural inequalities shape access to legal services and how organizations like the Refugee Children Center work to address these gaps. Using a qualitative approach, this study will conduct in-depth interviews with staff members, legal service providers, and families served by the organization to better understand their lived experiences and perspectives. This method will allow us to identify how services are delivered and where gaps may still exist. While data collection is ongoing, this project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Center’s services and identify areas for improvement. This project is significant because it seeks to gain insights that can strengthen legal service delivery and expand equitable access to justice for vulnerable refugee communities, while also identifying barriers such as funding and staffing limitations that affect the Center’s ability to meet community needs.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of highly stable synthetic chemicals that are resistant to oil, water, heat, and degradation. Because of these properties, PFAS can persist in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years. A key source of PFAS pollution in the environment is through biosolids– nutrient-rich wastewater byproducts that are treated and widely applied as fertilizer on agricultural lands. Biosolids are often contaminated with PFAS, and their land application can introduce PFAS into water and agricultural systems. As a result, produce and animal products from contaminated farms can contribute to PFAS accumulation in human tissues and related health risks. Currently, state regulation for biosolids is limited. The EPA regulates biosolids under Part 503 of the Clean Water Act, but those standards do not include PFAS, and state level approaches remain inconsistent. This has resulted in a patchwork of standards enforcing differing levels across the nation. To assess the implications of these regulatory gaps, this analysis draws on a survey of state legislation and a literature review to examine the health, environmental, and economic challenges posed by PFAS in biosolids. These findings suggest strong federal regulation is the most effective approach for lowering levels of PFAS in biosolids.

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have disproportionately high rates of chronic disease or multimorbidity and managing these conditions is complicated by individual and structural-level barriers. This integrative review explored the barriers and facilitators to managing chronic disease or multimorbidity among PEH. The research team (BES, SS, CA) first developed a review protocol. Three databases were identified and searched (i.e., PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Psycinfo), using keywords (e.g., “people experiencing homelessness,” “chronic disease,” “multimorbidity,” and “disease management”), and MeSH terms and Boolean operators (i.e., AND, OR) were selected. A total of 51 articles were identified from PubMed (n=25), CINAHL Complete (n=8), and Psycinfo (n=18). Using Rayyan, a screening software, duplicates (n=10) were removed, and two reviewers (BES, CA) utilized a two-stage blind screening process during the initial title/abstract (n=41) and full text (n=8) screening. During the first stage, 41 articles were assessed for inclusion. After resolving conflicts, 33 articles were excluded, 8 advanced to full-text screening, and 5 articles were excluded, resulting in a final review of 3 articles. The key themes centered around barriers and facilitators to managing chronic disease or multimorbidity and the role of housing. Taken together, chronic disease or multimorbidity management is influenced by both individual and structural-level determinants and necessitates multi-level intervention.

Anti-immigrant policies, deportation campaigns, and racialized policing have created fear and instability in immigrant communities, which causes families to withdraw from public institutions. LA based nonprofit that supports primarily low-income Latino immigrant families, helping build trusted relationships and resilience within vulnerable communities. Our research question is: What allows community groups to mobilize in this moment of fear and trauma in our immigrant communities? We will conduct qualitative interviews with PLN staff, community organizers, and promotoras recruited through PLN networks, community outreach, and voluntary participation. Questions will explore how immigrant families and community members experience fear, resilience, and community support. Results are to be determined.