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Nonprofits offering medical, legal services to young immigrants

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Two nonprofits serving New Jersey’s immigrant and low-income communities have formed a unique partnership to offer medical and legal services along with wraparound support under one roof.

Dover-based Zufall Health and the Jersey City-based New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children met in Morristown to announce the launch of Florecer, teaming up help their mutual patients and clients access their services more conveniently

Florecer means “bloom” in Spanish. Its target audience: Children and youth, regardless of immigration status.

“In addition to addressing the medical, legal, and interrelated needs of young immigrants by meeting them where they are, in their mother tongue, and with deep regard for their lived experience, this partnership tackles the root causes of inequity across access to justice and health,” said Priscilla Monico Marín, executive director of NJCIC. “This hybrid model acknowledges immigration status as a social driver of health and works towards stronger health and legal outcomes for young immigrants.

Launched in 1990 by Dr. Robert Zufall, who died in March, and his wife, Kay, Zufall has grown from a small clinic in Dover to an essential source of healthcare in seven counties for those who cannot afford it. With a staff of about 500, Zufall operates from 15 locations throughout North and Central New Jersey including a Delta Dental mobile van.

The Consortium provides legal services and advocates for policy that benefits unaccompanied immigrant children. Thousands of migrant children cross the U.S. southern border each year without a parent or guardian, fleeing unrest, poverty and violence in search of security and safety in the United States.

“This inspiring initiative is setting a new standard for integrated care for young people, no matter where they were born,” Zufall President and CEO Frances Palm said during the partnership announcement. “Together, we are able to address significant barriers to good health for some of our most vulnerable patients.”

The announcement stated that the partners would take an approach that integrates Youth-centered, language-specific, and trauma-informed legal services in trusted healthcare settings to ensure the meaningful entry, inclusion, and advancement of young immigrants throughout the Garden State.”

More information about the Florecer partnership is available on the Zufall and NJCIC websites, or by calling the NJCIC at 551-261-3050. Email inquiries can be sent to alafurno@njcic.org.

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