The Digital Divide: Kids Face Homework Gap


Frustrated Latino Son and Mother Study Homework School

Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. households with school children do not have high-speed Internet access at home, and 1 in 4 low-income teens have no access to a computer at home, according to a new analysis by Pew Research Center. This causes a "homework gap." Latinos and other youth of color, especially those from low-income families, are more likely to face this digital divide at home to complete tech-based school homework. Latino and other minority students are already at a significant disadvantage due to an unhealthy school environment and less physical activity, according to a Salud America! Research Review. Additionally, Latino and other minorities, both children and adults, suffer a big lack of access to support for economic and education success, which makes it extremely difficult ...

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Wintermission Competition to Increase Social Interaction and Physical Activity


Mom and son playing at park on cold winter day.

Does your city want to embrace the winter, rather than merely endure it? Apply for Wintermission! Wintermission will coach three U.S. cities to plan, pilot, and implement creative solutions to increase social interaction and physical activity among children, newcomer families, and other vulnerable communities in public spaces during the coldest, darkest months of the year. Applications, offered by nonprofit 8 80 Cities, are due Nov. 29, 2018. “Building a culture of public life outside in winter also helps build a culture of public life in all seasons,” according to the 8 80 Cities website. Improving Social and Physical Activity in Winter Fewer people spend time outdoors in the winter, which contributes to lower rates of physical activity and social ...

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School Strategies to Support Immigrant Students, Families


Male High School Student Talking To Male Latino Teacher.

Immigrants are a part of American society, regardless of ongoing political battles. Schools play a big role in embracing and accommodating the unique socio-emotional needs of immigrant students and their families, well beyond academics. But not all school personnel are equipped to respond to these needs. Fortunately, recent guidelines from the National Dropout Prevention Center can help you and other teachers, administrators, and staff at your school understand and better meet the social, economic, and emotional needs of immigrant students and families. “Meeting the needs of such diverse immigrant child and family situations requires knowledge, commitment, and emotional energy on the parts of school administrators, teachers, and other school personnel,” according to the ...

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Latinos, Blacks Suffer From Wealth Divide


race wealth taxes divide equity gap

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act aims to give an economic boost to hardworking Americans. But it's not working that way, some experts say. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act actually rewards top-income earners, and expands the ever-growing racial wealth divide between whites and Latinos and other minority groups, according an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) report. "These tax cuts reward existing White wealth at the expense of the economic security of households of color, poor households, and a stalling middle class," according to the ITEP report. For Latino and Black families, the economic outlook is bleak. Wealth and Communities of Color Income inequity is already a rising issue. Wealth inequity, income inequality’s closely connected cousin, isn’t talked about ...

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Salud America! Gets $1.5M to Drive Health Equity for Latino, All Families


Latino health equity family collage

Salud America! has received a two-year, $1.5 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to create new digital content to inspire people to drive community change for health equity for Latino and all U.S. families. Salud America! was established nationally in 2007 and is based at UT Health San Antonio. The program produces culturally relevant multimedia research, tools, and stories to fuel its online network—more than 200,000 moms and dads, healthcare providers, and community and school leaders—to start healthy changes to policies, systems, and environments where Latino children and families can equitably live, learn, work, and play. The new funding will extend Salud America! from October 2018 to October 2020. Salud America! now will engage more people with ...

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Tell U.S. Gov’t: Protect Immigrant Families


Immigration Rally in Washington latino dad and daughter march

Everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. But the Trump administration's proposed change to the Public Charge rule could penalize legal immigrants applying for green cards if they use public benefits, such as food assistance or housing, according to the National Immigration Law Center. The government wants public comments on the proposed Public Charge changes from Oct. 10 to Dec. 10, 2018, at regulations.gov. Here's how you can speak up: Copy a model comment below, drafted by our Salud America! research team. Hit "Comment Now." Paste the comment in the box at regulations.gov; be sure to to edit the comment by adding a personal story or tweaking the information before submitting, as exact duplicate comments will be discarded. Model ...

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