Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs

Agency Overview The Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA) is in its 28th year of carrying out its charter. The Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs was established in 1987as an independent entity of state government. Core functions include; Advise the governor, legislature and state departments and agencies of the nature, priorities of the problems of Hispanic people. Serve as a liaison between the community and government entities improving the quality of lives of Hispanics in the state of Idaho.

At 196,502, Hispanics are the largest minority group, representing 12.02% of the total population in 2014 compared to 175,901 in The Hispanic community in Idaho continues to experience a steady increase in population and is growing faster than expected.

From 2000 to 2014, Idaho’s Hispanic population increased by more than 94,812, or 93%. The growth rate for non-Hispanics in the same decade was 21%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2014

Idaho Statistics, cont. District 5 has the highest concentration of Hispanics. District 5 includes Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Twin Falls counties. Source: U.S. Census 2013 Estimate District 1District 2District 3District4District 5District 6District 7 Benewah Bonner Boundary Kootenai Shoshone Clearwater Idaho Latah Lewis Nez Perce Adams Canyon Gem Owyhee Payette Washington Ada Boise Elmore Valley Blaine Camas Cassia Gooding Jerome Lincoln Minidoka Twin Falls Bannock Bear Lake Bingham Butte Caribou Franklin Oneida Power Bonneville Clark Custer Fremont Jefferson Lemhi Madison Teton

CountyPopulationHispanics% of pop. Clark % Jerome22,8187, % Minidoka20,3236, % Power7,6172, % Lincoln5,3161, % Gooding15,0644, % Cassia23,5406, % Owyhee11,3533, % Canyon203,14350, % Blaine21,4824, % Bingham45,2698, % Teton10,3411, % Washington10,0211, % Payette22,8363, % Elmore26,0944, % Top 15 County Source: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States, States, and Counties: July 1, Population Estimates

 The Hispanic population grew faster in urban than in rural Idaho (an annual rate of 9% in urban Idaho compared to 5% in rural parts of the State  In 2009 Hispanics were more likely to live in rural counties than non-Hispanics (38% compared to 29%)  Parts of rural Idaho would be losing population if not for Hispanic growth Idaho Statistics

In Clark County, Idaho’s smallest county with fewer than 1,000 residents, Hispanics make up 42.2 percent of the population and 38.2% percent of the buying power in In comparison to 29.5% of the total buying power in 2012.

As in years past, the growth of the Hispanic population in Idaho has consistently outpaced the growth of the non-Hispanics. This pattern is expected to continue. The Hispanic population is younger than the non-Hispanic, and not as evenly distributed as the non-Hispanic population. The median age for Hispanics is 22.8 and the median age for white non-Hispanics is The state wide median age is 36.3." Source for all data: US Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates,

Key Issues for our State The Hispanic population growth poses key challenges:  Education  Health and Human Services  Business and Economic/Workforce  Public Policy The Commission is the only state agency representing the Hispanic community and serving as a liaison between the community and government entities Commission provides leadership, guidance and advocacy concerning issues facing the state Hispanic population

Idaho Hispanics have lower levels of educational attainment than other groups. This is troubling given the fact that Idaho Hispanics are the largest racial/ethnic group in the state. Increasing the educational attainment for our population is not only a moral imperative, but necessary to ensure a healthy workforce, a strong economy, and a productive and informed citizenry.

Hispanic students are the fastest-growing demographic group in Idaho’s education system. Hispanic enrollment in public K-12 schools increased by 75% between 2000 and 2013, compared to 8% among non-Hispanic students.

There is a wide variation in the distribution of Hispanic children through Idaho schools. There are approximately 50,116 Hispanic students in Idaho’s schools, or 16.76% of the total K-12 public school population. Idaho Schools

 Wilder 80.14%  Caldwell 52.74%  Murtaugh 46.99%  Clark County 45.89%  Glenns Ferry 44.90%  Aberdeen 44.63%  Shoshone Joint 41.88%  Wendell 41.47%  Minidoka Joint 40.41%  Jerome Joint 40.17% Source: Top ten school districts with highest percentage of Hispanic Students  Wilder 76.0%  Caldwell 58.0%  Aberdeen 58.0%  Murtaugh Joint 57.0%  Clark County 53.0%  Jerome Joint 49.20%  American Falls 46.0%  Shoshone Joint 45.77%  Bliss 45.0%  Minidoka County Joint 45.0%

Hispanic K-12 enrollment (%)  Districts where Hispanics make up a large share of enrollment tend to be those where agriculture, especially dairy, is an important industry.  Counties with the highest change in enrollment in one year are Canyon, Gem, Washington, Payette, Jerome, Owyhee, and Minidoka. Hispanic K-12 Enrollment (%), Source: Idaho Department of Education, Student Ethnicity Statistics

Decreasing Dropout Rates - In , 2.2% of Hispanics in public schools dropped out of grades That figure is down from 8.2% in and 12.7% in This significant decrease shows that educational gains are being made slowly over time.

 The Hispanic community in Idaho makes important contributions in business, professions, academics, politics, and culture.  Hispanics, long under-represented as voters, are more visible. We consider ourselves part of the future and want to invest in it.  Hispanic eligible voters are younger than White and Native American eligible voters. The percentage of registered Hispanic voters who actually voted increased from 57% in 2002 to almost 74% in 2006.

There are 73,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho; 78.5% of the eligible voter population are citizens by birth and 21.5% are naturalized citizens.

Concentration of Hispanic Buying Power Percent of total buying power Under 3% 3% to 9% (yellow) 10% to 20% Over 20%

The economic influence of Idaho’s largest minority continued to increase in 2013 — even as the overall growth of buying power slowed in the post-recession expansion. The buying power of Hispanics rose 4.9 percent from 2012 to 2013, nearly twice the growth rate for the state overall. *Source- University of Georgia-Selig Center for Economic Growth

Eighty-six percent of Latinos say a woman is the primary shopper in their household. Latinas are key-drivers of Hispanic economic power. The multibillion‐dollar influence being exerted by Hispanics in Idaho has culturally and economically diversified the state and generated business opportunities across the board.

Diabetes is more prevalent among Idaho’s Hispanics than among other Idahoans. A survey of Hispanics in southwestern Idaho revealed it was their most pressing health concern. Diabetes accounts for 6% of Hispanic deaths, compared to 3% among non-Hispanics.

Nationally, Hispanics were more likely than any other racial or ethnic group to be without health insurance in 2011: 38% of Hispanic adults had no insurance, compared to 14% for non- Hispanics. The disparity is even greater in Idaho, where 50% of Idaho’s Hispanic adults had no insurance, compared to 19% for non-Hispanics. Hispanics were also less likely to have employer- sponsored health insurance (27% of Hispanics, compared to 53% for all Idahoans).

See: under DATA Like the rest of the nation, Idaho is becoming more diverse, mainly because of its growing Hispanic population. These publications provide a one-stop source of information about the current economic, education, and social status of Hispanics in Idaho. Our focus is to continue to provide timely and meaningful data.

Community Outreach Efforts Quarterly Community visits- visiting cities with the largest concentration of Hispanic families

Town Hall Meetings

Town Hall Meetings, cont.

Panel of Experts Linking the community with direct resources

End Results... Strengths Linking our community with direct resources on hand Town leadership has the opportunity to hear from the community first-hand Community has the opportunity to meet the town leadership Legislators hearing first hand from the communities Action Plan for follow-up purposes Summary report sent to all leaders Follow up visit within five years

Weaknesses Marketing and outreach efforts to pre-plan the visit Setting up meetings with community leaders can be challenging Need more time for actual visits Could use more time and funding to carryout the action items