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Introduction
Today, the influence of Latinos on the American landscape is not only seen, but also felt and heard. Music and food have crossed over and become part of the mainstream. In the largest cities in the United States, the Latino population continues to grow and outpace other groups. States such as South Carolina, Virginia, and Nevada, have seen their Hispanic populations grow to such a degree that social services are strained and cannot keep up with the need. Latinos now constitute 15.1% of the population and estimates are that by 2050 they will represent 30% of the U.S. population. This means that young Latinos are one-third of the future of America.
In the past, this phenomenal growth has been fueled by not only immigration, but also higher birth rates. But that trend has changed and in fact, the Pew Hispanic Center reports that since 2000, while Hispanics accounted for more than half of the overall population growth in the United States (50.5%), , births, rather than immigration, accounted for a larger percentage of that growth. Today, 25% of all children younger than five is Hispanic.
But how are the children faring? What does this mean in terms of policies and programs for young Latinos? Is the situation improving? What do the numbers report?
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Today, 32% of young Latinos live in poverty. If the situation does not improve, by 2050 half of all Latino children will be living in poverty.
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The U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 2007 found that one out of five Hispanic households fell below the poverty level; and within today’s economic challenges the probability of this number increasing is high. October 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics released a new report on the unemployment data, stating that Latinos have a 13.1% unemployment rate – nearly 3% higher than the general population at 10.2%.
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One in five does not have health insurance. Nine out of ten of these children live in working families.
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Latino children face food insecurity every day. Almost 1 in 5 Latinos experience food insecurities; and Hispanic households with children are twice as likely as non-Hispanic white households with children to experience very low food security. Food insecurity has been linked to negative health outcomes and can have detrimental effects on educational attainment.
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More than one out of two Latino two year olds is not fully immunized.
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41% of Latino children are obese or overweight which can lead to diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
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A Latino born in 2000 has a 51% chance of being diagnosed with diabetes in his/her lifetime.
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Latinos continue to have the lowest graduation rates. Only 55% of Hispanics who enter the 9th grade complete the twelfth grade with a regular diploma .
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Latino children are underrepresented in early childhood programs.
 These problems can seem insurmountable, but there are countless of organizations working throughout the United States that have found solutions to these problems and work every day to create a better future for young Latinos. Unfortunately, these organizations’ work is unknown and because of lack of any press, underfunded.
The National Latino Children’s Institute, along with its partners, the National Education Association and the Office of Minority Health held a forum on April 30, 2009, Creating a Nation of Hope for Latino Children−Effecting change on behalf of those who will build the future−our children. The purpose of the forum was to identify solutions to working with Latino children and their families by promoting effective strategies in the areas of education and health that are making a difference in the lives of thousands of Latino children. Additionally, as billions of dollars are being distributed to federal, state and local agencies to invest in communities through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act there are still many questions and few answers; but through this forum participants had an opportunity to find out what they needed to know to benefit their communities.
The following were examined during the forum:
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The effects of the economy on the Latino population, especially the children and their families;
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The NLCI guiding principles as fundamentals for successful and effective programs serving Latino children that demonstrate “best practices”.
- A framework for seeking new resources and entering into strategic partnerships to expand opportunities for La Promesa programs and other community and national partners to support targeted outcomes around education and health. (back to top)
Click here to go to Focus Group Findings.
1 Fry, Richard. Latino Settlement in the New Centruy. Pew Hispanic Center. Octover, 2008
2 Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. “Graduation Rates (cuilative promotion indices) for studentslby race and gender 2006” EdCounts database, Http://www.edcounts.org/createtable/step1.php. (accessed October 20, 2009).
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