Undocumented Students: Breaking Barriers in Healthcare

Immigrant and refugee support

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Despite California's increased support for undocumented students, significant obstacles remain in accessing higher education, careers, and employment, especially in health-related fields. A 2024 Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) survey found that 83% of its scholars had difficulty finding advisors to help them navigate their educational paths, clinical experience, background checks, and the primary concern around "How can I use my degree without work authorization?"
In Los Angeles, a county represented within PHD, around 110,000 undocumented individuals are high school and college-going age (16 to 24), but only 5% to 10% of undocumented high school students attend college; even fewer pursue graduate programs. Even more, since the DACA rescission, most undocumented students lack employment authorization, limiting their economic mobility. PHD intervenes by providing advocacy, advising, and training in the areas affecting undocumented youth's educational and economic advancement.

PHD engages and mobilizes undocumented students, educators, and schools through the initiatives below to address income and educational inequality for undocumented students.Though PHD programming is available statewide, this grant will support PHD in increasing, tailoring and focusing its impact in Los Angeles County.
Pathways:Graduate Pipeline Program Pathways is a program for undergraduate undocumented students pursuing degrees in health-related fields. It offers individual and cohort style, career exploration, and training on advocacy, networking, and entrepreneurship. Pathways trains students to connect with institutions to build connections that increase access to programs and financial and holistic support.
LaunchPad:Entrepreneurship in Healthcare PHD's LaunchPad introduces undocumented scholars and educators to entrepreneurship in health-related fields through single- and cohort-style training. LaunchPad inspires undocumented students to look beyond the traditional employment route, which is unavailable to them, and to create and seek entrepreneurial opportunities available to them as health professionals. LaunchPad provides professional development to educators to better guide scholars who will benefit from entrepreneurship due to their status.
UndocuEDU:Mobilizing Educators UndocuEdu, connects PHD with educators and administrators to provide training and hands-on guidance to establish holistic resources and access by breaking barriers for their undocumented students.

Through this partnership, Los Angeles County will transform into a place where undocumented students are embraced and included in the educational and professional pathways of healthcare. It will be a home where these students can aspire to become doctors, nurses, dentists, health and policy experts, community health workers, and more, ultimately achieving economic prosperity. More undocumented scholars will enroll in and graduate from local colleges and universities, equipped with the skills to lead, advocate, and thrive. Educators will be ready to tackle the tough questions posed by students, fostering an environment where knowledge is shared and growth is continuous. Undocumented individuals will make significant contributions to the region’s healthcare system, creating a more inclusive and equitable workforce that mirrors its vibrant diversity. More immigrants, including the undocumented, will emerge as agents of change, propelling community health and economic mobility for all.