SHORTAGE AS WELL AS PROVIDING LONG TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR OUR SERVICES MORE FLEXIBLE, MORE COMPREHENSIVE, MORE SERVICES ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF HAWAII'S Senator Inouye and Members of the Senate Sub-Committee on Labor, Health and related Agencies, we thank you for this opportunity to submit this testimony on behalf of the native American Samoan Community in the State of California. It is a special privilege to have this opportunity to share with you today the very positive experiences, strong support, and deeply felt respect that our Samoan community in California, and the National Office of Samoan Affairs, in particular, has for Senator Inouye. With aloha, we join our brothers and sisters from Hawaii to say "Fa'afetai tele High Talking Chief Fofoga O Samoa." We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to Senators throughout the country for their support of JTPA funds to address the needs of a particularly high risk population. Today we want to acknowledge your support, share our successes, and request funding for the continuation and expansion of a vital and ́ promising program. STATUS OF THE BAMOAN JOB TRAINING PROGRAM In July 1990, the National Office of Samoan Affairs (NOSA) received $702,763 to provide job assistance to workers of native American Samoan ancestry in areas of the state with a large Samoan population. California houses the largest migrant population from American Samoa. Prior to receiving the 1990 Census count for Samoans in California, there is an estimated number of 90,000 Samoans living in the State of California. Compared to the overall population, American Samoans have one of the highest unemployment and high school drop out rates in the state. In some areas, up to 40% of the adults can not find work. Nearly 50% lack high school educationa. For most of those fortunate enough to have jobs, their salaries fall 50% below the national norm. Over 27% of all American Samoans in California live below established poverty nearly three times the average rate. Throughout the Samoan community there is a general lack of basic skills and English language proficiency, and a growing and alarming rate of substance abuse, domestic violence and gang affiliation. Francisco Unified School District officials report that Samoan youth have the highest drop-out rate in the district. The Los Angeles area has one of the highest per capital participation in gang affiliation from among Samoan youth. What this means is thatalthough Samoans are not represented as a minority population in California - as Blacks and Hispanics - our youth are seriously over represented in critical areas of social problems. levels - San Due to the urgency and severity of these conditions, we chose not to concentrate our resources and talents in one community, but rather to establish three program sites: in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Los Angeles Basin and the San Diego County. We hope through additional funding to reach Samoans in high-risk communities such as Sacramento, San Jose, Orange County and San Mateo. The Samoan JTPA Program in California is known as "The Native American Samoan Employment and Training Program" (NASETP). He are happy to report that NASETP has begun to address with considerable success in two and one half years of operation the establishment of three (3) program sites. A fourth area to be included this year is Orange County. This Succes0 can also be credited to support form local community leadership in all four (4) program sites (San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles Basin, San Diego County). Each of the sites offer classroom occupational training, classroom remediation and pre-employment training, on-the-job training and hands-on training in addition to supportive services. within ten (10) months, 410 participants have been served in California representing 82% of our annual service goal which is 500 participants. One hundred six (106) participants have been successfully placed in unsubsidized employment, trained eight (8) bi-lingual job counselors and collaborated for participation to include 120 Samoan economically disadvantaged youths in Summer Youth Employment and Training Programs. Since most of the participants live in low-income, high-crime areas, there is a need to build into the program, in addition to the occupational and job-seeking skills component, training that strengthens self-esteem, offers strategies for dealing with "culture clash," and addresses the problems of gangs and substance abusa. This program is one of a kind and services a critically needy and underserved population. Our accomplishments thus far demonstrate our strong conviction to to promote economic self-sufficiency. Success hinges on the fact that the delivery of services does not depend on government agencies, but rather grassroots organizations working in collaboration with various training and employment agencies such ав the State Employment Development Department, Community Colleges, BDA/PIC Apprenticeship Programs, local school districts and private employers. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM Socioeconomic Status of American Samoans: The special difficulties faced by American Samoans residing in the United States set them apart from other populations in the United States. They exhibit problems in dimensions beyond those generally associated with other impoverished populations in the United States. The American Samoans are a relatively small population; however, they have high proportions of persons and families with serious economic disadvantages, according to a 1984 study, by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor. Characteristics include: low levels of education, high unemployment, low per capita and household incomes. Less than two-thirds of the American Samoan population in California, 25 years old and over, are high school graduates. Income is quite low, by any measure, The per capita income for American Samoans residing in the United States is $3,573, according to the 1985 Census data, "We the Asian and Pacific Islanders", exceeding only that of the Vietnamese. Among American Samoans in california per capital income is about $4,000. Low per capita income is caused by high unemployment rates, employment in low-paying occupations, and high fertility rate; and, it has the consequence that many American Samoan families live in poverty. The majority of employed American Samoan adults work in occupations, operators, fabricators, and general laborers. Those American Samoan adults who are more literate in English find employment in clerical and other office occupations. Employment of Native American Samoans in administrative, managerial, professional, or technical occupations are acarco or non-existent in the United States. American Samoans are a youthful population with a relatively high fertility rate, oven among the migrant population in the United States. The median age of American Samoans in the United States is about 19 years. And, the average fertility rate for American Samoan women, upon completing child-bearing years, is over 4 children. The implications are clear: a rapidly increasing population of American Samoans in the United States during the next several decades. Hayes and Levin, in a report submitted with the DOL-commissioned study, estimate that this population could grow to between 84,000 and 182,000, depending on assumed rates of migration and natural increase. The large family sized and the low incomes place many American established poverty levels. According to the 1980 Census, about 21% of American Samoan families in California are below the poverty level; compared with 8.7% of all California families. The Samoan Community are well represented in the most depressed areas of the cities. For example, the Los Angeles site's participants include the youths who are members of Samoan youth gangs residing in government housing projects where recruitment is very vary difficult. Collaborations with private employers and training facilities have been hindered by the fact that most of our participants have been stereotyped with these negative labels. |