Clark County Council agrees to back Latino Leadership Northwest grant to study immigrants' access to services

Clark County's council on Feb. 25 agreed to provide a time‑sensitive letter of support for a grant application to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, authorizing staff to send the letter after clarifying potential competing applicants.

Jordan Bogie, senior policy analyst, explained that Clark County Public Health and Latino Leadership Northwest want to apply for RWJF funding to research immigrant families' experiences accessing health and social services in Clark County and to develop community-driven solutions. "They have requested a letter of support for their application," Bogie said, noting the application deadline was imminent.

Councilor Young asked whether other local organizations were applying for the same funding, saying he would support a letter "hinging on that there are no other organizations locally that have applied for that funding." Bogie said he was not aware of other applicants and offered to follow up with Public Health. Councilors Fuentes and Little expressed support for providing the letter; the chair counted three members in favor and directed staff to proceed so the application packet could include council support.

The letter is intended to support local data collection on whether fear of immigration enforcement deters residents from accessing services, a topic the council has connected to prior resolutions and public‑health work. Staff said the work would focus specifically on Clark County and noted the request came from Public Health.

Next steps: staff will confirm whether other local applicants exist and provide the letter of support to Public Health in time for the grant application.