Dare to Get Involved: Taking Action to Improve Minority Health Washington, D.C. Mildred Thompson / January 28, 2005 Community-Based Strategies for Improving Latino Health

Project Collaboration Project funded by the Kellogg Foundation Collaboration with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute and PolicyLink

Methodology Interviews with 16 African American and Latino political leaders and Community Voices grantees Extensive Literature Review National Convening - May 25, 2004 Washington, D.C.

Goal of Project Exploration of ways in which social, economic, and physical environments of Latino immigrant communities affect health and contribute to health disparities

Why Focus on Latino Immigrants? Latinos are the largest ethnic group in the United States In 2000 the Hispanic population in the U.S. was 32.8 million, 12% of the population By 2010 the Hispanic population in the U.S. is projected to be greater than the entire population of Argentina By 2030 the Hispanic population is expected to grow to 63 million; 88 million by 2050 (Resource:

Why Focus on Latino Immigrants? continued Immigrants from Latin America,by country of origin Mexico57% Central America13% South America 12% Cuba 5% Dominican Republic 4% Other Caribbean 9% (Community-Based Strategies for Improving Latino Health, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and PolicyLink, 2004)

Settlement Patterns Previous concentration of Latino immigrants: California New York Texas New Jersey Florida

Settlement Patterns continued 1.North Carolina6. Tennessee 2.Georgia7. Nebraska 3.Nevada8. Colorado 4.Arkansas9. Arizona 5.Utah 10. Kentucky New growth states for immigrants with highest percentage of Latino new arrivals:

Underlying Question: Why does health of immigrants deteriorate with length of time in the U.S.? Acculturation The process of acquiring and selectively adapting new cultural information and behaviors, either to supplement or to replace ones culture of origin. (Community-Based Strategies for Improving Latino Health, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and PolicyLink, 2004) Assimilation Absorbing into the prevailing culture. (Webster) To make or become similar; to consume or absorb. (Webster)

Factors that Influence Latino Health Outcomes Decreased health coverage = decreased preventive care = increased risk factors Decreased language access + undocumented status = fear Decreased cultural competence Lack of Latino providers Increased stress – racism Lifestyle and behaviors that place Latinos at risk: –Increased smoking, drinking, substance abuse –Increased fatty food consumption –Decreased exercise

Health Conditions Disproportionately Affecting Latinos Type II Diabetes Obesity and Overweight Liver Disease – highest rates for all racial groups in the U.S. While representing only 20% of the U.S. population, Latinos are 20% of people living with HIV / AIDS in this country

Protective Factors Strong family units Strong Social Networks Alternative Healing Practices Ethnic Enclaves: support cultural patterns Diet ( recent immigrants)

Promising Policy Options 1.Protect and expand rights of immigrants Enforce anti-discrimination immigrant laws Establish new laws that prohibit discrimination Revise federal welfare reform laws restricting medicaid and food stamp eligibility

Promising Policy Options continued 2.Increase language access and improve cultural competency Promote training for public and private institutions serving immigrant communities Provide funding and technical assistance to regions with new immigrant growth to help in understanding and better serving new arrivals Create opportunities for compatible client- provider matches especially focused on cultural and language compatibility

Promising Policy Options continued 3.Expand opportunities for quality education Improve quality of public education Increased funding to expand classes and literacy programs Ensure federal and state funds for student language acquisition are targeted to areas with high numbers of immigrants Expand professional development opportunities and requirements for teachers to receive specialized training on working with English language learners, and promote increased teacher trainings