Social Services

MICOP’s Social Services Department continued to support Indigenous migrant communities by connecting them with essential resources, including housing assistance, healthcare access, and language justice. Through culturally responsive programs, our team served communities across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Each program within the department plays a role in advancing our shared mission: to support, empower, and organize the Indigenous migrant community across California's Central Coast.

MICOP's Reunión Comunitaria in Santa Maria and Oxnard continued to be vital for MICOP's community outreach, offering a welcoming space for Indigenous families to access resources, get updates, and build connections. Alongside regular tabling, MICOP hosted an annual health fair in Oxnard, where local service providers and health organizations met the community in a culturally respectful setting.

This past year, we expanded to Paso Robles, where MICOP began food distributions to help address food insecurity in northern San Luis Obispo County. Although still in its early stages, this effort marked a crucial step in expanding MICOP's support for Indigenous families.

This past year, MICOP's Social Services Department proudly launched its Doula Program in partnership with Gold Coast Health Plan to expand access to culturally grounded maternal care for Indigenous and BIPOC families in Ventura County. Led by an all-women team of certified doulas, the program is rooted in the traditions of parteras—Mexican and Indigenous midwives who have guided generations through childbirth.

Fluent in Indigenous languages such as Mixteco, Zapoteco, and Purepecha, doulas provide support, advocacy, and education throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. By honoring traditional knowledge and empowering Indigenous-led care, MICOP fosters a workforce that directly benefits Indigenous communities with culturally relevant and accessible care.

In 2024, MICOP's Medi-Cal Navigators supported community members enrolling, renewing, and understanding their health coverage. With services in Indigenous languages such as Mixteco and Zapoteco, the team ensured that access to care remained rooted in language, trust, and cultural respect.

Whether assisting a first-time applicant or supporting a renewal, Navigators offered clear, personalized guidance. This year, services expanded to Paso Robles, strengthening access to informed care within Indigenous communities.

MICOP’s Immigration Legal Assistance (MILA) program provided essential legal support to Indigenous and immigrant communities in 2024, reaching over 27,000 individuals across Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. With a culturally and linguistically accessible approach, MILA conducted an estimated 752 consultations, filed 249 immigration cases, of which 149 were approved. These included cases such as: