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How Many Universities Are Hispanic-Serving Institutions?


Latino college students

There are now 631 colleges and universities registered as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across 29 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This is an increase over the 602 reported last year, according to a new report from ¡Excelencia in Education!. HSIs are defined as “accredited, degree-granting public or private not-for-profit institutions of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student (FTE) enrollment.” Let’s explore what this means and how it impacts students. By the Numbers: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) HSIs represent 21% of all colleges and universities but enroll 65% of Latino and 32% of all undergraduates, according to ¡Excelencia in Education!. The graduation rate for HSIs include 67% of ...

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5 Big Takeaways on the State of Childcare


Childcare teacher helping students with activity.

Quality childcare plays an important role for parents, children, and the economy. Yet America has a fragmented childcare and early learning system that doesn’t meet the needs of families, businesses, or early educators, according to a new report from the organization Child Care Aware of America. The report unpacks the childcare funding landscape throughout the U.S. “Families struggle to find and afford child care, the child care workforce is woefully underpaid, child care programs operate on razor thin margins, and businesses are suffering lost productivity and workforce turnover due to child care issues,” according to the report. Let’s dig deeper into these issues and how they can impact children and their families. 1. States Are Still Not on an Even Playing Field ...

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Can E-Cigarettes Increase Cancer Risk?



Nicotine-based vapes, or e-cigarettes, are likely to cause cancers of the lung and oral cavity, according to a new study led by the UK’s University of South Wales. “[Our study] is the most definitive determination that those who vape are at increased risk of cancer compared to those who don’t,” said study leader Bernard Stewart. Let’s dive into what the study results mean for those who vape. E-Cigarettes and Cancer Risk Little attention has focused on whether e-cigarettes might cause cancer on their own. So, study researchers – pharmacists, epidemiologists, thoracic surgeons, and public health experts – examined clinical studies, animal experiments, and laboratory research to understand the chemicals produced by e-cigarettes, according to a news release. They ...

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Poll: Weighing the Financial Burden of Health Care


Patient receiving medical bills, She is desperate about high bills, Doctor showing her patient the cost for the treatment.

In the fictional hospital TV show The Pitt, a Latino family man is rushed to the hospital after passing out at his job.   The cause of his fall?  The man, who has diabetes, had only been taking half of his prescribed insulin dose following a loss in insurance coverage. Despite the threat to his health, he opts out of treatment due to its high cost, his family’s medical debt, and loss of work pay.  He then leaves the hospital without being discharged only to return later the same day — this time on the brink of death.   While this man’s story may be fictional, it represents a reality far too many Latinos and other people encounter — the choice between affording medical care and death.   A recent KFF poll found that half of US adults can’t afford the rising ...

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Texas Fails to Make the Grade on Child Health Insurance Coverage


shot of a mature doctor doing a checkup on a little boy at home

As a state that has yet to expand Medicaid, Texas continues to fall behind other states when it comes to healthcare access, including maternal healthcare.  Much of this has to do with the lack of access to affordable health coverage.  According to a new report from UnidosUS, Texas is the country’s worst state when it comes to providing healthcare coverage for children.   The report found that over 1 million children in Texas lacked health coverage in 2024 – a metric that accounts for 14% of the childhood population of the state.   This is compared to the 6% of US children that were uninsured.   What’s more, a staggering 66% of uninsured children in Texas were Latino.  “Being born in Texas more than doubles the likelihood that a child will grow up ...

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Is AI a Reliable Source for Health Information?


Healthcare and AI

Artificial intelligence, better known as AI, is part of everyday life for many people. In fact, experts say people interact with AI almost constantly or several times a day, from looking up information to creating something to making decisions. That goes for health decision-making, too. “AI is rapidly becoming a key player in many people's medical decisions. According to OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, more than 40 million people consult the platform every day for health information,” NPR reports. Let’s dive deeper into what this means and how trustworthy AI is for health advice. Making the Right Medical Choices with AI?   One in six American adults consult AI chatbots for health information at least once a month, according to a recent study in Nature Medicine. The ...

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What Does Caregiving Look Like in the United States?


Family caregiver

More than 59 million Americans provide care for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability. When it comes to Latinos, 17% of caregivers in the U.S. are Latino. A recently published report from the Pew Research Center found that lower-income adults with an aging parent, spouse, or partner are more likely to be caregivers than those in higher income tiers. “What we found is that the caregiving burden increases as aging family members get to be 75 and older. And, among Americans with an aging parent, spouse or partner, those with lower incomes are much more likely to be caregivers than those with middle and upper incomes,” according to the Pew Research Center. Let’s dig deeper into this study’s key takeaways that can impact families. 10% of All U.S. Adults ...

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5 Key Insights on the State of Early Childhood Nutrition


Infant drinking milk

From breastfeeding to solid foods and vegetables, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) address childhood food issues in a new report, Early Childhood Nutrition. The report covers: Breastfeeding Support for Infant Feeding First Solid Foods Healthy Eating Affordability of Nutritious Foods Let’s dive deeper into the report and how it impacts families with children. 1. Most Infants Don’t Receive Full Health Benefits from Breast Milk The CDC report found that only 2 in 5 infants born in 2022 were still being breastfed on their first birthday, meaning that most infants do not receive the full health benefits that breast milk can provide. “Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most infants. It helps protect babies and moms from ...

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How Far are Parents Commuting to Work?


Latina commuting to work

Commuting is a part of everyday life for many. In fact, almost 140 million people in the United States routinely commuted to work in 2022, according to the United States Census Bureau. Many Latino parents with low incomes who commute to work are commuting a long way, with 1 in 10 traveling 60 minutes or more to work, according to a new report by the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families (NRCHCF). Let’s look deeper into data on commutes and how it impacts families and communities. Commuting by the Numbers According to the NRCHCF research, people who commute to work outside of the home take an average of 27.8 minutes to travel to work. For Latino parents with low incomes, the distance increases. “One in 10 (10%) Hispanic parents with low ...

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