Currently, 1 in 4 kindergartners nationwide are Latino. By 2050, that number will be 1 in 3. Latinos are the fastest-growing population in the country and they are also becoming the youngest. However, many disparities in education exist between Latinos and other races and ethnicities. A new report from the Child Trends’ Hispanic Institute uncovered some alarming findings regarding Latino kindergartners and their math skills. According to the report, Latino students, on average show up to their first days of school three months behind their white peers when it comes to their mathematics abilities. While they “make up ground” throughout the school year, the achievement gap remains because they start so far behind. “One of the best ways to not be behind the starting gate at ...
Latinos are one of the fastest growing populations in the country. They are expected to grow from 1 in 6 people today to 1 in 4 by 2035 and 1 in 3 by 2060. Latinos often face many barriers that keep them from attaining the best healthcare possible. In realizing the disparities that exist for Latinos, unique strategies have often been employed to try to overcome these hurdles. One of the main strategies is employing promotoras de salud. These layperson community health workers are able to build trust in the community and connect hard-to-reach Latinos to health and social resources. In the city of Arlington Heights, IL (5.6% Latino population), their growing Latino population now have new advocates for them. Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) has hired five promotoras to go into the ...
Researchers from the University of California San Francisco recently found the risk of early rapid weight gain and obesity at age 2 years among infants that were exposed to antibiotics in the first 6 months of life. The researchers evaluated the type and frequency of antibiotic exposure at 6 months and 1 year of life and their descriptions of infant dietary intake. The cohort of women studied was 97% Latina and was recruited at prenatal clinics in 2012 and 2014. Recent studies suggest that there are harmful effects of antibiotics on the healthy gut in this developmental period before 12 months of age and can increase obesity risk, reported Childhood Obesity. Results indicated that antibiotics exposure, most commonly amoxicillin was greater among obese 2-year-olds (40%) compared ...
In the Latino community, promotoras de salud are often invaluable parts of the healthcare process. Often times, they are critical in removing cultural barriers that prevent Latinos from accessing quality healthcare. A project in Sacramento, Calif. (28.08% Latino population), is looking to create even more promotoras in the area. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation recently provided a grant to Empower Yolo’s “Promotoras for Active Living” Project. The mission of Empower Yolo is “to promote safe, healthy and resilient communities.” The promotoras they hire are often past clients or lay members of the community who have been trained to “deliver culturally appropriate health education” to the friends and neighbors. In order to reduce health disparities, it is ...
For many Americans, where they live often dictates how healthy they are. For Latinos, where they live often creates inequities and disparities; residential segregation often leads to a lack of access to care, lack of educational attainment, and financial inequity. The financial site WalletHub examined the notion of healthy cities recently. Cities across the country promote overall health and wellbeing through numerous initiatives ranging from access to nutritious food to creating recreation and fitness facilities to preserving and promoting green spaces or keeping healthcare costs affordable. Still, many cities are unable to or have not yet made such large-scale changes as these. Without these areas being prioritized, good health can be difficult to maintain, especially for ...
Promotoras have long been acknowledged as important agents of healthy change in Latino communities. Thanks in large part with their relationships in the community and the specialized health education they receive, promotoras are often able to reach Latinos that “traditional” health care workers cannot. In Northern California’s Sonoma Valley, the La Luz Center was founded to provide a variety of social and health services to the area’s burgeoning Latino population. Now, their new initiative will begin organizing and training promotoras to go into the community and promote healthy lifestyles. According to a story in the Sonoma Index-Tribune, the first group includes seven area women who received training from La Luz, the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, and Sonoma Valley ...
It is well-known that there is an undeniable link between education and health. Better educated people have longer life expectancies. For Latinos, barriers often exist between them and obtaining the best education possible, creating disparities between them and other races and ethnic groups. In Park City, Utah (16.43% Latino population), the local school district is taking extra measures to reach out to its growing Latino student base. A new, deliberate, concerted effort has been undertaken to reach out to the area’s growing Latino residents to “ensure all students in Park City schools receive a top-flight education.” The Park City School District hired Eric Esquivel last year to be the Latino Community Relations Specialist and head the new Latino Advocacy Team. The group has ...
The Latino population is growing across the country. They are currently the nation’s largest racial/ethnic minority group. Currently, 1 in 6 people today are of Latino ancestry; by 2035, that number is expected to be 1 in 4. In the state of Oregon, a new report shows that Latinos make up 12% of the state’s population, up from 8% in 2000. In many communities, those numbers are even larger. In the Umatilla School District in eastern Oregon, the number of Latino students currently is set at 65%, up from 42% in 2001. This rapid growth has accounted for some challenges for school district officials. This diverse and growing population calls for more updated methods of communication and outreach. “What families need at 42 percent Hispanic is far different than what they need at ...
The connection between housing and health is an indisputable one. Living in a health hazard-free home is important for everyone – especially children – to living healthy successful lives. The presence of hazardous materials in many homes, including lead-based paints, mold, and pests threaten the health and safety of many children living in low-income homes. An upcoming webinar by the National League of Cities will discuss the importance that municipal governments have in enforcing local building codes and inspecting properties for code violations that might negatively impact health. The webinar, entitled Connecting the 3 E’s: The Importance of Equity, Enforcement and Engagement in Advancing City Healthy Housing Efforts, will take place on Wednesday, February 22 at 1:00pm ...
