Tag: News

In a series of recent studies, some unknown realities of Hispanic youth have come to light. The studies expose some dire statistics about the mental health of our youth.

One such survey was the 2012 CDC report which indicates that teenage Latinas are more likely to attempt suicide (13.5%) compared to other teenage females (8.8% for non-Hispanic blacks, and 7.9 for non-Hispanic whites). According to Dr. Rosa Gil of Comunilife, some 17% of Latinas in New York City are actively considering suicide.

Another study says that Latina teens are 1.5 times more likely to commit suicide after being bullied.

Numbers such as these are not only shocking, but heartbreaking for our community. Many experts believe that our teens are facing such high tendencies due to many reasons. For instance, some suggest that teens from migrant families have a hard time readjusting to a new culture, and feel isolated, thus contributing to the numbers.

Perhaps the hardest obstacles to overcome are the stigma of mental illness among Latinos, as well as the lack of access to appropriate medical resources. The New York State Psychiatric Institute has found that Latinos are more likely to seek help from friends or clergy, than professionals, compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Those who do seek professional help often have a hard time getting access to mental health specialists, due to the shortage of bilingual and bicultural professionals and deficiencies in culturally sensitive services.

In short, this is an issue that deeply impacts our community, though there is a stigma as well as limited awareness.  It is an issue that needs to be addressed, and thankfully several groups in our community are leading the charge to bring awareness of mental health issues to Latinos across the U.S.

To learn more about one group is doing to raise awareness, visit here.

Today, more than one in five youth between the ages of 10 and 19 in the United States is Hispanic.  By 2020, that figure will rise to approximately one in four and, by 2040, nearly one in three adolescents will be Hispanic.  The Office of Adolescent Health, in collaboration with the Office of Minority Health, offers a snapshot of how Hispanic adolescents are faring on a range of critical health indicators and provide links to support for the services they may be lacking.

Providing Hispanic adolescents with culturally and linguistically appropriate health services has led to improved quality of care and more positive health outcomes.  There is good news of positive changes in Hispanic health in the areas of health care coverage, teen pregnancy, and earning a high school degree.

Since 1991, the teen birth rate of Hispanics has seen a decline of over 50%.  While they are not the only ethnicity to have good news on this front, their decline in rates were the steepest from 2007-2011, averaging 34%.  The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics released new data that teen births have declined dramatically in nearly all states.

The latest report breaks down teen birth data by states and race and ethnicity from 2007 through 2011.   The overall rate fell 25% in the U.S. –a record low!  There were declines among all ethnic groups.  The rate for Latino teens fell 40% or more in 22 states.  Birth rates declined 20% or more for both non-Hispanic black teens in 34 states and for non-Hispanic white teens in 30 states.

However, along with the good news is still the reality that Hispanic adolescents continue to struggle with disparities related to mental health, substance abuse, and physical activity. Hispanic male and female adolescents were more likely to feel depressed than their black and white peers and they were more likely to have ever tried smoking, to drink alcohol (and to start at a younger age); to drive with someone who had been drinking; and to try cocaine, inhalants, and ecstasy.  Hispanic adolescents face challenges to maintaining a healthy weight.   Rates of obesity are higher for Hispanic adolescents than for black and white U.S. adolescents.  Hispanic parents cite a greater number of barriers to their children’s physical activity than do white parents.  They are more likely than their white peers to watch more TV and less likely to be part of an organized sports team.

For more information on each of these issues, See the full article, March 2013: Health Snapshot – Hispanic Adolescents in the United States with numerous links to studies and resources.

John DiIulio, University of Pennsylvania professor and noted author on social science, political, and economic issues writes, “there is one politically salient issue concerning the nation’s large and growing Latino population that neither party’s leadership has fully acknowledged: Latino grassroots groups, neighborhood associations, and faith-based networks do remarkable and remarkably well-documented work, but these organizations may still be getting short shrift when it comes to federal funding and other support.”

DiIulio cites two of the National Alliance for Hispanic Families’ reports, La Diferencia: Grassroots Organizations Uniquely Serving Hispanic Communities through Culturally Relevant, Family Focused Programs  and Beyond the Rhetoric: Improving Service to the Hispanic Community.

Read the entirety of the Washington Post article here.

Friday April 5th, 2013 (9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.)
Saturday April 6th (9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon)
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida

Despite the importance of immigration for the well-being of our nation, the average American has a very limited and predominantly negative view of immigrants. Too often popular media and political discourse promote and support a toxic caricature of immigrant families. At odds with this myopic characterization of immigrant family life, family researchers and practitioners frequently remind us of the richness and complexity of immigrant families. This conference brings together national immigrant family researchers and local immigration practitioners to discuss some of the intricacies of immigrant families and the challenges they face as they carve their way into American society. The conference includes panel discussions on youth well-being and international adoption, parenting and intimate relationships, fertility, sexuality, and partner selection, dynamics of transnational families, and the cultural adaptation and implementation of evidence-based interventions to assist immigrant families in need. Come join us at the University of Miami, enjoy the warmth and beauty of South Florida, and make use of this wonderful opportunity to learn about Immigrant Families as They Really Are.

Keynote Speaker: Carola Suarez-Orozco
Professor of Human Development and Psychology
Co-Director, Institute for Immigrant Children and Youth, UCLA

Registration is now open. Click here to register.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in collaboration with America’s Promise Alliance introduce a new report, Teen Pregnancy and High School Dropout: What Communities Can Do to Address These Issues, to help make the connection between teen pregnancy and school completion. One in four U.S. public school students drop out of high school before graduation and nearly one-third of teen girls who have dropped out of high school cite early pregnancy or parenthood as a key reason, and the rate is higher for minority students at 36 percent of Hispanic girls. The high school dropout rate in this country continues to be a crisis; nearly one in four Americans overall and four in 10 minorities do not complete high school with their class.

Notwithstanding the association between teen pregnancy and dropping out of high school, little research exists on the relationship between these two issues in school districts across the country. The primary focus of the report is to highlight innovative ways school systems—particularly persistently low-achieving school districts with high teen birth rates—and public agencies and community-based organizations that oversee teen pregnancy prevention programs are working together with the common goal of helping students avoid too-early pregnancy and parenthood and complete their high school education. The report also provides examples of strategies for connecting efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and improve educational attainment that education, health, and community leaders around the country might find helpful as they work to reduce teen pregnancy and improve graduation rates. Although there has been progress in reducing teen pregnancy and improving graduation rates, there is more work that needs to be done.

There are some exciting and innovative approaches that are currently in place that illustrate how the education and health sectors in communities with high teen birth and dropout rates are working together to improve graduation rates by addressing teen pregnancy prevention  A number of strategies are identified that can be replicated elsewhere as individual schools, school districts and education agencies, health departments, and community organizations look for ways to address the link between teen pregnancy and educational achievement. Examples include: surveying parents about what they want for their children; educating community leaders and parents; providing access to professional development programs for school staff and teachers; reaching out to school administrators; and building relationships with new champions.

To access the full report click here.

As you know, the Latino vote was a major contributor to the re-election of President Obama last month and has brought much attention to this, the fastest growing minority in the country.  Hispanics now comprise 21 percent of the population under 25, but they also have the highest poverty rate.  According to the Pew Hispanic Center, more Latino children are living in poverty — 6.1 million in 2010 — than children of any other racial or ethnic group. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors and barriers, federal resources often do not reach Latino children and families living in disenfranchised poor communities.

At a time when federal budgets are tight, it is important to use innovative strategies to reach this segment of our society.  Attached is an overview of the work the National Alliance For Hispanic Families (NAHF) has been involved in over the past year with the Administration For Children and Families. To characterize this work as a success would be misleading, as you will read.  But the eight practical, budget-neutral recommendations are solid and can be applied to any federal agency to quickly improve and expand service to the Hispanic population.

NAHF is dedicated to improving the lives of Hispanic families throughout the country, and we would welcome an opportunity to talk with you about the recommendations outlined in this report.

[button text=”Download report” link=”https://www.hispanicfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/BeyondtheRhetoric_ReachingtheHispanicCommunity1.pdf”]

Written by authors and NAHF Members Lorena Garza Gonzalez and Lisa Trevino Cummins, “INHERITANCE: Discovering the Richness of Latino Culture and Family” has been among Amazon’s top 10 hot new releases for books in the Hispanic category.  Endorsed by some of our country’s most respected leaders including the Honorable Henry G. Cisneros and Secretary of State Hope Andrade, the authors share and reflect from their rich experiences that include time among immigrant families to work in the White House to recount stories of undaunted courage, faith, and valor.

“I know that the stories I’ve written are not mine alone, but are the stories shared by so many in our Latino community.  I hope that this book will provide families an opportunity to reflect on their blessings and celebrate the inheritance from their own families,” shares Dr. Lorena G. Gonzalez.

“As our community strives and achieves success through education and business, it is important to be reminded of the rich values and lessons for which many in our families paid a significant price.  They are the true heroes and heroines that I don’t want my children and their generation to miss,” notes Lisa Trevino Cummins.

About the Authors:

As the Director of National Hispanic Initiatives for Urban Strategies, Dr. Lorena G. Gonzalez combines practical and theoretical experiences to provide training and technical assistance that teaches practitioners, educators, policymakers, and community leaders how to build successful programs driving positive change.

Lorena received her Ph.D.in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX, and her M.A. in Bicultural Bilingual Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She completed post-doctoral work at Harvard University’s Government, Executive Education Program.  Lorena and her husband, Rene, live in San Antonio, TX.

Lisa Treviño Cummins is President of Urban Strategies, a Washington, D.C. based organization that is focused on supporting the work of Hispanic and faith-based organizations serving vulnerable families throughout the country.

Lisa is a graduate of Trinity University and the University of Texas in San Antonio.   She currently serves on the boards of World Vision, the Christian Community Development Association, and the Seed Company.  Lisa, her husband, and their three children reside in the Washington, DC area.

For more information, please visit the website:  Inheritance: Discovering the Richness of Latino Culture & Family

To buy the book: Click Here

Washington D.C. (Oct. 22, 2012) — At the conclusion of National Hispanic Heritage Month, members of the National Alliance For Hispanic Families are calling on leaders of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to quantify the work the agency has undertaken in the last year to better serve Latinos.  In spite of its good-faith attempt, the agency’s focus on evidence-based efforts seems to have fallen short of providing the necessary details to support a theme of strong progress toward serving the needs of Latino families and children.

“Celebrating heritage is important, but the growing size and unattended needs of the Hispanic community can no longer be relegated to four weeks out of the year that generate photos ops and sound bites,” said Luis Torres, Professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.  “We are not doubting the sincere intent of the Agency’s leadership, but it has, nonetheless, fallen short of demonstrating any real indication of success or clear effort toward serving Latino needs.”

Exactly a year ago, NAHF leaders provided ACF with budget-neutral recommendations that would have a tangible impact on the Agency’s service to Latino children and families.  While highlighting a few anecdotal examples, the Agency has not provided quantifiable information to measure progress across numerous key indicators, including those that ensure a fair and focused allocation of resources to meet the core needs of underserved communities.  These indicators include:

1. Lack of baseline data from which to measure progress and ensure that organizations that have a history of serving Latino populations have applied and been awarded any of ACF’s $16 Billion in grants.
2. No method for capturing the percentage of reviewers or review panels for all of ACF grant programs that were Hispanic during grant reviews in the 2011-2012 cycle, much less for any baseline period.
3. No method for capturing increases in, if any, the number and dollars of investments for research specific to Hispanic populations.  Again, no information on baseline period or relative comparison data.
4. No quantifiable data on how the Hispanic Healthy Marriage and Responsible  Fatherhood Initiative is being strengthened, how many dollars are allocated to serve the initiative, how many dollars have been awarded to organizations who have evidence of successfully serving Hispanic populations, or what the baseline is to conclude the program has been “strengthened.”
5. There is no clarity about the meaningful changes and improvements in ACF’s policies and investment in Hispanic families that have been generated as a result of the Administration’s commitment to the Latino community.
6. No information on how many jobs have been filled in the agency and what percentage of those has been filled with Hispanics.  No ability to compare this rate to previous periods.
7. No data that reflects the improvements ACF has made to identify and alleviate the impact of restrictive immigration laws on public benefit programs and social services.

“If an agency touts itself as being evidence-based yet repeatedly fails to report out measures of success on data that should be basic, it begs the question – what information, if any, is actually being collected, measured, and tracked to demonstrate a concerted effort to meet the growing needs of Latino children and families, a community already proven to be grossly underserved,” Torres said.   “While it is understood that data doesn’t always tell the complete story, a narrative without metrics and quantifiable measurements is insufficient, especially in a time of growing need amidst economic pressures.”

Download a copy of the recommendations NAHF forwarded to Acting Assistant Secretary George Sheldon last year (October 2011) HERE.

Washington D.C. (Oct. 4, 2012) — The National Alliance for Hispanic Families today released a new report, La Diferencia: Grassroots Organizations Uniquely Serving Hispanic Communities Through Culturally Relevant, Family-Focused Programs, detailing the urgent need for sustainable programs that solve critical problems within the Hispanic community.  The report provides an overview of successful Hispanic-focused organizations built upon four key elements that transform the lives of thousands of Hispanic individuals and families.

“This report takes a serious and close look at the basic makeup of successful organizations currently serving this vital community,” said Jose Villalobos, Sr. Vice President of TELACU.  “The foundational elements among these diverse programs are the same, and must be tested in other communities with other Hispanic groups to show they work best.”

The report outlines the unique characteristics that allow organizations to effectively engage individuals that other groups often are unable to reach.  Also highlighted are  personal success stories and detailed program overviews for eight successful organizations around the country:  Soledad Enrichment Action (Los Angeles, CA), Instituto del Progreso Latino (Chicago, IL), Comunilife Life Is Precious (Bronx/Brooklyn, NY), enFAMILIA, (Homestead, FL), Creciendo Unidos (Phoenix, AZ), Con Mi MADRE (Austin, TX), Family Bridges and FuturoNow (Chicago, IL/Los Angeles, CA).

Unfortunately there are many challenges that impede the progress of Hispanic-serving organizations, the report says. These include apathy and indifference in non-immigration related issues, unbalanced focus on intervention rather than prevention, insufficient number of Hispanics in positions of influence, and restrictive emphasis on evidence-based models.

La Diferencia makes recommendations for building and sustaining responsive programs, and calls on policymakers to fund the evaluation and replication of those programs at levels commensurate with the Hispanic population growth.

For a copy of the complete report, click here.