Reaching Vulnerable Populations: Latinos and Hunger National Hunger Free Communities Summit February 25, 2012 Alejandra Gepp, MA. in Ed.HR Associate Director, Institute for Hispanic Health

Overview of Presentation Overview of NCLR and IHH Latinos in the USA Latinos and Hunger – Underlying Factors – Pathways to Food Secure Households NCLR’s Health and Nutrition Programs

The National Council of La Raza NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. NCLR is headquartered in Washington, DC, with regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio. NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas—assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health.

The Changing American Family Latinos are a young, thriving population in the United States. There are 50 million Hispanics in the United States, representing one in six Americans. More than half (56%) of the U.S. population growth between is attributable to Hispanics. One in three Hispanics (34%) is under the age of 18.

The Changing American Family Latino children represent a significant part of America’s future. Latino children currently account for nearly one in four (23%) children in the U.S. They make up more than half the child population in New Mexico (58%) and California (51%) There are five times as many Latinos under the age of 15 than there are over 65.

The Changing American Family Many Latino Households are of “mixed status.” Though 91% of Latino children are citizens, more than half (58%) hail from immigrant-headed households.

Latino and Hunger While trends show that Latinos experience disproportionately high levels of food insecurity, in 2008, Latinos became the hungriest community in the country.

Latino Hunger More than one in four (26.2%) Latino households are food insecure, representing 3.7million households.

Latino Hunger Nearly one-third (30.6%) of Latino households is going hungry.

Factors of Latino Hunger The #1 Barrier to Good Nutrition is Limited Income and Resources More Latino families live in poverty and have lower incomes than other communities. Latinos are more likely to live in persistent poverty. Latinos spend less on food, but it’s proportionally more of their income.

Factors of Latino Hunger Food Assistance is Critical to Affordability In Comer Bien, all families brought up food and nutrition assistance as an important component of affording food and eating healthfully. In 2008, Latinos represented (42.1%) of WIC participants. – Cited broadly as the most accessible and popular program. Hispanics participate in school meals at comparable levels as Whites. – Represent about one-third of the kids who receive free meals. SNAP participation rates are lower, but the program is still cited as important. – Just over half (55%) of children eligible for SNAP participated when living in noncitizen households.

NCLR’s Health and Nutrition Work NCLR’s Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation works through policy analysis and advocacy at the federal level to ensure equitable access to health care and the resources needed to have good health for those who work and live in the United States. NCLR’s Institute for Hispanic Health develops and implements science-based, linguistically appropriate health interventions to increase knowledge, influence positive behavior changes, and improved lifestyle choices among Latinos.

Model Programs On the program side, NCLR has tested and evaluated pilot projects—Selección Sana, Vida Saludable (Healthy Selection, Healthy Life) and Niños en Forma, Comunidad Saludable (Fit Children, Healthy Community)—to better equip low-income, Spanish-speaking Latinos with the resources necessary to improve their food choices and engage in physical activity. On the policy front, NCLR has conducted activities focused on shaping policy through advocacy work that increases awareness of Hispanic nutrition issues and identifies mechanisms to promote nutrition by improving access to resources, including federal assistance programs.

Selección Sana, vida Saludable Promotores de salud (Community Health Workers)-driven program. Trained promotores in three sites on how to conduct an environmental scan and how families can integrate better nutrition into their lives. Conducted an environmental scan of health food choices and places to do physical activity in the community served. Integrated nutrition concepts during educational sessions with community members. Conducted cooking demonstrations with community members.

Niños en Forma, Comunidad Saludable IHH partnered with the Asociación de Salud Primaria and the Universidad del Turabo, in Puerto Rico, to conduct a pilot project among 30 Puerto Rican youth. Developed the Niños en Forma, Comunidad Saludable curriculum. Recruited and trained 14 youth promotores.

Comer Bien Conducted interviews with an advisory cabinet of community leaders to identify the most pressing nutritional issues faced by Latinos. Produced a videobanking project—Comer Bien: The Challenges of Nourishing Latino Children and Families— that included interviews with families and children suffering from the effects of hunger and obesity. These videos will be used to educate broad audiences and personalize the Latino experience. Created a book of personal stories entitled Comer Bien: The Challenges of Nourishing Latino Children and Families, examining the first-hand account of Latino nutrition experiences.

GETTING TO SOLUTIONS

NCLR Recommends We must address the total environment to solve the problem of Latino hunger. Raise Awareness of Latino Hunger Make Healthy Food More Accessible Make Healthy Food More Affordable Build Community Infrastructure Address Poverty and Economic Hardship

Three Areas of Action Document Latino experiences with hunger and document success. Tell the story Don’t just fight about food assistance, talk about how we as a nation ought to care for the hungry, poor, or otherwise vulnerable. Play the numbers game Participate in Child Nutrition Implementation and fight for other administrative policies that make it easier for Latinos to get good, affordable food. Get wonky

Promising Policies for Latinos Today School Lunch Policies for Kids USDA has translated new, easier to use applications. Promote good rules for migrant children. Send in comments on healthy food rules in schools. Healthy Food Infrastructure Retail Initiatives popping up every where – make sure they are affordable. There is prime opportunity for private-public/business-nonprofit partnerships on healthy eating. Jobs and the Budget American Jobs Act of 2011 Weigh in with the Super Committee Stand against bad “appropriations” for child nutrition programs.

For More Information Check out NCLR’s resources on Nutrition at: Join our “Health and Nutrition List” Contact: Alejandra Gepp Associate Director, Institute for Hispanic Health Jennifer Ng’andu Deputy Director, Health Policy Project (202) Twitter