In Harris County Precinct 2, Latinos make up 58 percent of the population and are becoming the majority in the state. Currently, Latinos make up 40.2 percent of Texas' population, and the Latino Child Health Initiative Report found that despite high labor force participation rates, only 5 out of 5 Latino children It is worrying that nearly one person is living in poverty. “Nevertheless, Latin Americans face severe inequalities in terms of conditions.”
fields of medicine and education. Approximately 34% of Latinos in Texas do not graduate from high school. Additionally, Latinos have less access to health care, even though they are at higher risk for developing chronic diseases. Additionally, compared to other races and ethnicities in Texas, Latino children are the most likely to be uninsured. ”
The report's authors hope these findings will move the Hispanic community forward. “We specifically looked at Latino children in the county, and what we know is that this region is the fastest growing part of our community. So how do we make sure that we're able to succeed and thrive and grow with these kids in a productive way? ” said Dr. Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, in an interview with KHOU.
In collaboration with the Baker Institute for Child Health Policy, Children at Risk will conduct a study focused on key indicators to assess the overall health status of Latino children in Harris County Precinct 2. was carried out. The report examines factors such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, mental health, and kindergarten readiness to gain insight into the current health status of Latino children. The findings revealed higher rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity among Latinos in the Houston area, as well as challenges accessing mental health services. Additionally, there were significant disparities in kindergarten readiness, particularly among economically disadvantaged children.
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“Being in this role as county commissioner, I didn’t want to just sit there and focus on maintaining roads, ditches and bridges,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. . “We also wanted to focus on human resources, recognizing that Hispanic youth are the future of our county, the future of our state, and the future of our country.”
The study uncovered a variety of barriers, including language barriers, immigration status, cultural bias, lack of insurance, food deserts, and limited resources available to the Latino community. This report aims to highlight and address the health disparities faced by Houston's Latino children and advocates for program changes to improve health outcomes.
Research shows that a healthy population fosters economic growth, increases children's chances of academic success, and leads to better economic opportunities.
A version of this article was first published on March 21. Latino News Network.
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