NY Non-Profit Helps Hispanic/Latino Seniors Manage Diabetes

November 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The IPRO-led Atlantic Quality Innovation Network (AQIN), the Medicare-funded healthcare quality improvement organization for New York, is scoring major gains in enrolling Hispanic and Latino Medicare beneficiaries in free Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) workshops in and around New York City.

EDC workshops are led by certified community health workers and emphasize peer learning – classes are open to all seniors and cover everything from symptom management, exercise and healthy eating, to strategies for working more effectively with healthcare providers.

With support from the New York City Department for the Aging's network of 300 senior centers, AQIN graduated over 3,000 Medicare beneficiaries from the program in 2014 — with a total of 6,500 graduates in New York since IPRO began offering the program in 2008.

Studies find the prevalence of total diabetes (both diagnosed and undiagnosed) among all Hispanic/Latino groups is roughly 16.9 percent for both men and women, compared to 10.2 percent for non-Hispanic whites.

Prevalence rises dramatically with age, reaching more than 50 percent for Hispanic/Latino women (overall) by the time they reach age 70 and 44.3 percent for men aged 70-74.

Overall, nearly one-third of adults 65 years and older in the U.S. have diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Diabetes is the most common cause of blindness, kidney failure, and amputations in adults and a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. AQIN is using November's American Diabetes Month to promote the availability of the free six-week workshops.    

                   

"The program empowers Medicare beneficiaries living with diabetes to take an active role in their health," according to Janice Hidalgo, IPRO's Director of Patient and Family Engagement Programs. "When you see beneficiaries transform and adopt a new attitude towards life, you can't help but feel that we are the lucky ones for being part of their journey to a healthier life," Hidalgo concluded.

AQIN is a Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' QIO Program. QIN-QIOs bring Medicare beneficiaries, providers, and communities together in data-driven initiatives that increase patient safety, make communities healthier, better coordinate post-hospital care, and improve clinical quality. To learn more about the free classes, visit www.atlanticquality.org or call IPRO at 516-326-7767.

This material was prepared by the Atlantic Quality Innovation Network (AQIN), the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization for New York State, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 11SOW-AQINNY-TskB.2-15-26

The Palace Group Embraces Aging Hispanic Population

September 23, 2015, PRNewswire/ -- Hispanics are the nation's fastest growing population and innovative senior housing operators such as The Palace Group (www.ThePalace.org) have implemented company-wide changes to appeal to these prospective residents.

"A significant reason most seniors and their families consider a senior community is for socialization benefits.

If an aging parent feels uncomfortable communicating with staff or her neighbors, it may lead to isolation and depression," said Adam Rosenblum, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for The Palace Group.

"Choosing a community that understands and embraces the cultural differences will ensure happiness and provide peace of mind for the entire family."

At The Palace's continuum of care campus in the Kendall-area of Miami, activity calendars now reflect the changing interests of residents. Each community offers extremely social events with cocktail parties at least once per week.

The variety of entertainment appeals to the social nature of Hispanic residents who appreciate the fun and lively nature of the programs.

Food service has also been adapted to The Palace's Hispanic population. The menu offers selections that appeal to Latin tastes. Continental breakfasts include Cuban coffee, a stronger and sweeter version than espresso, and pastries called pastelitos and croquettas. Lunch and dinner menus include black beans and rice, plantains and conger.

Additionally, at The Palace Suites, the company's luxury independent living community, an Espresso Bar was installed and serves as a central gathering place. Residents enjoy meeting friends and reading the morning paper along with their daily coffee. Selections include Cuban coffee along with cappuccino and espresso. 

"Seventy-five percent of The Palace's employees bilingual," added Rosenblum. "We realized there was a need to appeal to and attract Spanish speaking employees and that employee training needed to be available in Spanish. Our two-day orientation is also available in English and Spanish."

The Palace offers support groups that have been especially popular with Hispanic families. Led by a Spanish-speaking facilitator, these groups offer guidance to family members. The peer group discussions address changing family dynamics and offer resources for additional support.

"Our communities truly celebrate the differences of our residents," said Rosenblum. "Hispanic heritage simply isn't recognized from September 15-October 15 at The Palace. It's celebrated each and every day."

FAU Poll Shows Hispanics Believe Immigration is Important Election Issue and Favor Clinton and Trump for Nominations

Newswise, September 21, 2015 — An overwhelming majority of Hispanics say immigration is an important issue in the 2016 presidential race, and they’re throwing their support behind Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, according to the latest survey conducted by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) in the College of Business.

When asked how important the issue of immigration is in their decision on who to vote for as president, 60 percent ranked it as very important, while another 32 percent called it somewhat important – only 8 percent of respondents said the issue was not important at all.

More than 45 percent of those surveyed said they will vote in the Democratic primary, compared with 20 percent voting in the Republican primary, 22 percent undecided and 13 percent not voting in either primary.

Clinton topped the Democratic side of the survey, winning 65 percent of the vote, with Bernie Sanders taking 13.4 percent and Joe Biden 12.3 percent. Sanders fared strongest in the Midwest, where he trails Clinton 49 percent to 34 percent.

“Clinton’s weakness in other national polls has not been as pronounced among Hispanics in our survey,” said Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at FAU and a research fellow of the Initiative. “This may indicate that Clinton has a strong base of support among Hispanic voters.”

Trump has the support of 39.4 percent of Hispanics who plan to vote in the Republican primary, edging out Jeb Bush, who garnered 35.7 percent. Marco Rubio scored 5.6 percent; Ted Cruz with 5.1 percent; Scott Walker with 4 percent; Ben Carson with 3.6 percent and Rand Paul with 1.6 percent.

Women voted for Trump over Bush 41 percent to 32 percent, while men were split at 39 percent for each. Trump did particularly well among older Hispanics – ages 55 and over – with 29 percent, compared to Rubio at 20 percent, Bush at 15 percent and Cruz at 10 percent in this age group.

Highest income earners supported Trump with 68 percent of the vote compared to 9 percent for Bush.

“At this stage, it is interesting to note that both Trump and Bush are well ahead of other candidates with Republican Hispanics in our sample, including Cuban-American Florida Senator Marco Rubio,” Wagner said.

The survey was conducted nationally from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31. The polling sample consisted of 500 Hispanics with a margin of error of +/- 4.33 percent and a 95 percent confidence level

Smithsonian Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Newswise, September 14, 2015 — The Smithsonian invites the public to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) with a series of vibrant performances, lectures, family activities and exhibitions at various museums around the Smithsonian. All programs are free unless otherwise indicated. For a full calendar of events, visitwww.SmithsonianEducation.org/Heritage.

Feature Event

The Smithsonian will present “Celebration of ‘The Great Inka Road’ Family Day” Sunday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Museum of the American Indian.

his bilingual, museum-wide family day features Andean music and dance as well as Inka-related activities, including a “pop-up planetarium” showing the unique Inka constellations. A portion of the family day is made possible by Southwest Airlines and features ¡Descubra!, a Meet the Science Expert program activity supported by NBC Universal Telemundo and the Learning is Succeeding initiative.

Lectures

The National Museum of American History will kick -off a national Latinos in Baseball collecting initiative with an Oct. 15 panel discussion moderated by Eduardo Díaz, director of the Smithsonian Latino Center.

 The discussion, “In the Barrios and the Big Leagues,” will look at baseball as a social and cultural force within Latino communities across the nation. Panelists include Adrian Burgos of the University of Illinois, Jose Alamillo and Cesar Caballero of California State University, and Sarah Gould and Priscilla Leiva of the University of Texas. The program begins at 6 p.m. in the museum’s Warner Bros. Theater.

Dolores Huerta will discuss her life and activism in a live interview with Taína Caragol, curator of Latino art and history at the National Portrait Gallery Thursday, Sept. 24, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Doors to the museum’s Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m.

Book Signing

The Anacostia Community Museum will host a talk and book signing Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. Michael Donoghue will sign copies of his new book Borderland on the Isthmus, which examines the internal boundaries, conflicts and accommodations among the Panamanian people during the creation of the Panama Canal Zone.

Performances

In light of improved U.S.-Cuban relations, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra will present two concerts featuring the music of Chano Pozo, Mario Bauza, Machito and other influential Cuban composers. The National Museum of American History will host “Afro-Cuban Jazz Masterworks: In Full Swing” Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

The Anacostia Community Museum will present “Rhythm Café: Tribute to the Sound of Carlos Santana” during its monthly live jazz program Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. The program will feature David Cole, who was influenced by the fused rock and Latin rhythms of Santana.

Film

The Anacostia Community Museum will screen Rebel: Loreta Velazquez, Secret Soldier of the American Civil War, the PBS docudrama that brings to life the story of Loreta Velazquez, a Cuban-born woman who served in the Civil War disguised as a man. Scholars from the Civil War Trust will hold a Q&A after the film, Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m.

Bring the Kids

The National Museum of the American Indian in New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, will host Hispanic Heritage Family Day, Saturday, Sept. 19, from noon to 4 p.m. with activities such as bracelet and button making, decorating a jaguar mask and coloring an animal pendant. The day is held in conjunction with the exhibition “Cerámica de los Ancestros: Central America’s Past Revealed.” On Wednesdays, “Toddler Music with Irka Mateo” teaches toddlers (14 months–3 years) about Taino culture through stories, song, movement and hands-on activities, all led by renowned Taino musician Irka Mateo. First come, first served. Ongoing through Dec. 16.

The National Portrait Gallery will host ¡Sí se puede!: Dolores Huerta Family Day Sunday, Oct. 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate the work of teacher and activist Dolores Huerta. The day will include music, storytelling, family activities and bilingual tours of the exhibition “One Life: Dolores Huerta.”

The National Zoo’s annual celebration, ZooFiesta, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. features animals from Latin America: golden lion tamarins, Andean bears, anteaters, sloths, and more. The day includes animal feedings, musical entertainment, educational activities and authentic cuisine at a food bazaar.

The National Air and Space Museum will celebrate Latin American contributions to aviation and space exploration at its Hispanic Heritage Family Day: Innovators in Aviation and Space, Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Meet scientists and engineers—including a NASA astronaut—and participate in bilingual activities. The program is made possible by the Northrop Grumman Corp.

Demonstrations

The National Museum of American History holds “Food Fridays.” In each Food Friday program, a guest chef and a Smithsonian host prepare a recipe as they discuss the history of the dish. Throughout the month of September, Food Fridays will explore the cuisines of Spain, the Spanish Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America.

After the 45-minute demonstration, visitors can purchase a related dish in the museum’s Stars & Stripes Cafe. It complements the daylong festival, “Food History Weekend: Innovation on Your Plate,” Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities on Saturday include cooking demonstrations by Pati Jinich of Pati’s Mexican Table and Neftali Duran of El Jardin Bakery in South Deerfield, Mass. Chef Duran discusses Oaxacan cooking and its place in American cuisine.

Exhibitions

Opening on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the National Museum of American History presents “The 1965 Hart-Celler Act”. This display includes such Latino-related artifacts as an original United Farm Workers pin, a 1960s record album by the meringue band Primitivo y Su Combo and a shirt worn by a Cuban boy who was part of Operation Pedro Pan, which brought young people to the U.S. after Fidel Castro came to power.

New Releases

Smithsonian Folkways has recently released Tradición, Arte y Pasión by Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, a tribute to mariachi legend Nati Cano, who died in 2014.

All Hispanic Heritage month programs at the Smithsonian are subject to change. Unless otherwise indicated, Smithsonian Heritage Month programs are free. For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month programs, visit www.SmithsonianEducation.org/Heritage or email heritagemonths@si.edu . For general Smithsonian information, the public may call 202-633-1000.

Hispanic Poverty in Rural Areas Challenges States

August 28, 2015--Today, one in four babies born in the U.S. is Hispanic. Increasingly they are being born into immigrant families who’ve bypassed the cities—the traditional pathway for immigrants—for rural America.

Hispanic babies born in rural enclaves are more likely to be impoverished than those in the city. And it’s harder for them to receive help from federal and state programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Consistent health care also is hard to come by, particularly if their parents are undocumented and are fearful of being discovered and deported—even though the children are U.S. citizens.

As a result, many researchers say, many of these children may never realize their full potential and escape poverty.

“These babies are starting behind the starting line,” said Daniel Lichter, a Cornell University researcher and coauthor of a recent study on their situation.

 “And their opportunities as they move into adulthood are jeopardized. These are American citizens at risk of failing to thrive.”

A handful of states and municipalities are experimenting with ways to reach and help Hispanic families with young children living in rural areas, from health care initiatives to home visiting programs to bilingual preschool programs.

“This is a very hard-to-reach population,” said Brenda Eskenazi, a professor of maternal and child health and epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley who has been tracking the health of hundreds of poor, rural Latino children in central California for 15 years. 

“This is an underserved population whose needs aren’t being documented.”

'Reality' of Rural Poverty

Forty-seven percent of rural Hispanic babies are born poor, compared to 41 percent of Hispanic babies in urban areas, according to data compiled by Stateline. 

Nearly half of rural Latino babies have mothers who were born outside the U.S., and those infants have a poverty rate of 44 percent, according to Lichter’s study. 

About half the families are able to gain access to food stamps, but other welfare benefits reach only about 12 percent of them, the study found.

“Rural newborns born into rural poverty is reality,” said Jose Padilla, director of California Rural Legal Assistance Inc., a nonprofit. 

“Rural [areas are] where many of the foreign born and immigrant families go to live.”

The parents, many of whom come from Mexico and Central America, most often work in low-wage jobs, often in agricultural jobs on industrial farms, in meat processing plants, dairies and plant nurseries. 

“Even if both parents work,” Padilla said, “the wages are so low, the family remains in poverty.”

Few farmers provide housing for their workers, leaving families to fend for themselves. Some children grow up in ramshackle houses, where a family of four might share one bedroom, another family might live in the other bedroom and a dozen men might be camped out on the living room floor.

“The quality of housing that farmworkers are living in is quite often substandard, which can add to health problems,” said Virginia Ruiz, director of occupational and environmental health for Farmworker Justice, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy and research group. 

“Families are exposed to environmental toxins like mold, rodents and insects.”

Some babies born into farmworker families live within spraying distance of industrial-strengthpesticides.

In tracking Hispanic children in California, Eskenazi has found they often have trouble excelling in school because their homes are overcrowded and they have nowhere to do their homework. 

Because transportation is limited, it’s hard for them to participate in after-school activities. And there are few resources for children having trouble in school.

Very few go on to college, she said, and very few will escape poverty once they hit adulthood.

Because their parents cannot afford child care, children often are left by themselves while their parents work. In summer, the children often end up working alongside their parents in the fields.

Federal child labor laws restrict children under 16 from working—with the exception of children working in the agriculture and entertainment industries. Unless states pass prohibitive laws, children under 12 legally can work seven days a week picking crops after school—provided they have written parental consent.

“What scares me now is that many of them are going to end up in gangs,” Eskenazi said. “We expect that we’re going to see them become juvenile delinquents, drop out of school and experience teen pregnancies.”

State Efforts 

Realizing the challenges that this population poses, some states and localities are experimenting with ways to address them.

Lawmakers in Utah, where the Latino population has jumped 78 percent over the past decade, passed legislation last year to provide computers and Internet access to low-income families of preschoolers. (The program is for all children, although the state’s counties are overwhelmingly rural.) 

The program gives priority to families for whom English is a second language, according to Matthew Weyer of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Eastern states from New York to North Carolina and Georgia have centers run by the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, which specifically provides services to migrant and seasonal farmworker families. 

The program is staffed with bilingual teachers and provides meals, transportation, nutrition and career counseling, and health care to farm children and their parents.

The rural municipalities of Berea, Kentucky, and Indianola, Mississippi, recently received federal grants to address the needs of all rural children. 

These Promise Neighborhoods take a “cradle to grave” approach: from birth, disadvantaged children are tracked by different agencies, from school districts to health centers to child care centers, which work closely together to coordinate services. 

Such programs can have a big impact on the lives of rural Hispanic children, according to Michael McAfee, vice president for programs at PolicyLink, an Oakland, California-based think tank that tracks inequity in the U.S.

Already, early results from the programs seem promising, McAfee said. One Kentucky county reported that kindergarten-ready reading scores increased from 19 to 56 percent in the past year.

Programs helping poor, rural Latino children are most effective when local leaders have the power to tailor programs to targeted populations, McAfee said.

“You’ve got to give local leaders that flexibility,” he said. 

“They know how to engage culturally to get to Latino families in rural areas. If they’re fearful of the agency, or fearful of your program, they’re not going to come. When you allow the experts to do what it takes, we’re seeing results really accelerate.”

States have a social and economic stake in finding ways of reaching and helping rural Hispanic children, McAfee said.

“If you meet the needs of the most vulnerable, you help the broader society,” he said. “This is America’s tomorrow. Children of color are going to make up the majority of the population. We’re either going to have a healthy American economy—or we’re not.”

Hispanics More Confident of Personal Finances and the U.S. Economy Compared to a Year Ago, Latest FAU Poll Says

Newswise, August 24, 2015 — Hispanics have grown steadily more confident in their personal finances over the past year, as well as the U.S. economy as a whole, according to the latest survey conducted by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) in the College of Business.

The July survey completes BEPI’s first full year of polling Hispanics nationally, providing an evolving perspective of consumer sentiment over the last 12 months.

The Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) dropped slightly in July from the previous month, but at 93.8 posted a significant increase from where it stood in August 2014, when the CSI was just 68.3. 

The CSI hit a high of 100.7 in January 2015. All five components that make up the index have increased consistently compared to August 2014. 

Specifically, when Hispanics were asked about their current personal finances, 62 percent reported they are better off than a year ago, up from 45 percent in August 2014.

In addition, when asked their perceptions of personal finances a year from now, 72 percent of Hispanics surveyed expect their financial situation to be better in 2016, up from 50 percent in August 2014. 

Optimism toward business conditions also improved as the percentage of those who expect the country to experience good times financially in the next 12 months rose to 54 percent in July compared to 40 percent in August 2014. 

Finally, the percentage of Hispanics who are optimistic about the economic conditions of the country over the next five years rose to 56 percent from 36 percent in August 2014.

“The positive trend in Hispanic consumer confidence can be due to the moderate recovery of the economy and the creation of new jobs,” said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of BEPI.

The Current Economic Conditions (CEC) index dropped nearly five points from an all-time high of 103.49 in June to 98.08 in July, its third-highest mark since the study began in August 2014. In addition, the Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) dropped slightly to 91.03 in July from 95.19 in June, but stands higher than when the poll began in August 2014 (63.7).

The survey was conducted nationally July 1-31. The polling sample consisted of 500 Hispanics with a margin of error of +/- 4.33 percent and a 95 percent confidence level.

About FAU BEPI:
The Florida Atlantic University Business and Economic Polling Initiative Conducts surveys on business, economic, political and social issues with a focus on Hispanic attitudes and opinions at regional, state and national levels via planned monthly national surveys. 

The initiative subscribes to the American Association of Public Opinion Research and is a resource for public and private organizations, academic research and media outlets. In addition, the initiative is designed to contribute to the educational mission of the University by providing students with valuable opportunities to enhance their educational experience by designing and carry out public opinion research.

About Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. 

FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. 

FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Hispanic Heritage Month 2007: Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, which was observed during the week including Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long

celebration (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

   Population

    44.3 million

    The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2006, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation's total population. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.)

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048

.html and http://www.census.gov/Press- release/www/releases/archives/population/007910.html

About 1

    . . . of every two people added to the nation's population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, was Hispanic. There were 1.4 million Hispanics added to the population over the period.    http://www.census.gov/Press Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    3.4%

    Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, making Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group.http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048

.html

    102.6 million

    The projected Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 24 percent of the nation's total population by that date.

    http://www.census.gov/Press Release/www/releases/archives/population/00

1720.html

    22.4 million

    The nation's Hispanic population during the 1990 census -- just slightly over half the current total.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-3.pdf

    3rd

    Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2005. Only Mexico (106.2 million) and Colombia (43 million) had larger

Hispanic populations than did the United States (42.7 million). (Spain had

a population of 40.3 million.) http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html

    64%

    The percentage of Hispanic-origin people in households who are of Mexican background. Another 9 percent are of Puerto Rican background, with 3.5 percent Cuban, 3 percent Salvadoran and 2.7 percent Dominican. The remainder are of some other Central American, South American or other

Hispanic or Latino origin. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    Roughly half of the nation's Dominicans live in New York City and about half of the nation's Cubans in Miami-Dade County, Fla. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    27.4 years

    Median age of the Hispanic population in 2006. This compares with 36.4 years for the population as a whole.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    107

    Number of Hispanic males in 2006 per every 100 Hispanic females. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 97 males per every 100 females.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    States and Counties

    48%

    The percentage of the Hispanic-origin population that lives in California or Texas. California is home to 13.1 million Hispanics, and Texas is home to 8.4 million.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    15

    The number of states with at least a half million Hispanic residents. They are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    44%

    The percentage of New Mexico's population that is Hispanic, the highest of any state. Hispanics also make up more than a quarter of the population in California and Texas, at 36 percent each, and Arizona (29 percent).

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    4.7 million

    The Hispanic population of Los Angeles County, Calif. -- the largest of any county in the nation.     http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/00

7263.html

    305,000

    The increase in Texas' Hispanic population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, which led all states. California (283,000), Florida (161,000) and Arizona (102,000) also recorded large increases.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    22

    Number of states in which Hispanics are the largest minority group. These states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont,Washington and Wyoming.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048

.html

    Businesses

    Source for statements in this section: Hispanic-owned Firms: 2002, athttp://www.census.gov/csd/sbo/hispanic2002.htm

    1.6 million

    The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.

    Triple

    The rate of growth of Hispanic-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002

(31 percent) compared with the national average (10 percent) for all

businesses.

    $222 billion

    Revenue generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, up 19 percent from 1997.

    45%

    . . . of all Hispanic-owned firms were owned by Mexicans,

Mexican-Americans and Chicanos.

    29,168

    Number of Hispanic-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more.

    -- 43 percent of Hispanic-owned firms operated in construction; administrative and support, and waste management and remediation services; and other services, such as personal services, and repair and maintenance. Retail and wholesale trade accounted for 36 percent of Hispanic-owned business revenue.

    -- States with the fastest rates of growth for Hispanic-owned firms between  1997 and 2002 included New York (57 percent), Georgia and Rhode Island (56 percent each), and Nevada and South Carolina (48 percent each).

    -- Counties with the highest number of Hispanic-owned firms were Los Angeles County (188,422); Miami-Dade County (163,187); and Harris County, Texas (61,934).

    Families and Children

    9.9 million

    The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2006. Of these households, 62 percent included children younger than 18.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_hous

eholds/009842.html

    67%

    The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_hous

eholds/009842.html

    44%

    The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple with children younger than 18.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_hous

eholds/009842.html

    66%

    Percentage of Hispanic children living with two married parents.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_hous

eholds/009842.html

    23%

    Percentage of total population younger than 5 that was Hispanic as of

July 1, 2006.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/01

0048.html

    Spanish Language

    32.2 million

    The number of U.S. household residents 5 and older who speak Spanish at home. Spanish speakers constitute nearly one in eight U.S. household residents. Among all those who speak Spanish at home, more than one-half say they speak

English very well.

    (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    29%

    Percentage of Texas residents who speak Spanish at home, which leads all states. This compares with the national average of 12 percent. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    78%

    Percentage of Hispanics 5 and older who speak a language other than English at home. Of that number, about half speak English very well.

(Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

    $37,800

    The median income of Hispanic households in 2006, statistically unchanged from the previous year after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006,

at     http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583

.html)

    20.6%

    The poverty rate among Hispanics in 2006, down from 21.8 percent in 2005. (Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United

States: 2006, at     http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583

.html)

    34.1%

    The percentage of Hispanics who lacked health insurance in 2006, up from 32.3 percent in 2005.     (Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United

States: 2006, at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583

.html)

    Education

    59%

    The percentage of Hispanics 25 and older who had at least a high school education in 2006.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009

749.html

    12%

    The percentage of the Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher in 2006.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009

749.html

    3.1 million

    The number of Hispanics 18 and older who had at least a bachelor's degree in 2006, up from 1.4 million a decade earlier.    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009

749.html

    839,000

    Number of Hispanics 25 and older with advanced degrees in 2006 (e.g., master's, professional, doctorate).

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009

749.html

    11%

    Percentage of all college students in October 2005 who were Hispanic. Among elementary and high school students combined, the corresponding proportion was 19 percent.

    http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/007

909.html

    Educational attainment levels are higher among certain Hispanic groups than among others. For example, among Cubans 25 and older, 73 percent were at least high school graduates, and 24 percent had a bachelor's degree or

higher.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_surve

y_acs/007748.html

    Jobs

    68%

    Percentage of Hispanics 16 and older who are in the civilian labor force. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    17%

    The percentage of Hispanics 16 or older who work in management, professional and related occupations. Approximately 24 percent of Hispanics 16 or older work in service occupations; 22 percent in sales and office

occupations; 2 percent in farming, fishing and forestry occupations; 16 percent in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations; and 19 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

    77,700

    Number of Hispanic chief executives. In addition, 49,200 physicians and surgeons; 53,700 postsecondary teachers; 29,000 lawyers; and 3,300 news analysts, reporters and correspondents are Hispanic. (Source: Upcoming Statistical

Abstract of the United States: 2008)

    Voting

    7.6 million

    The number of Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2004 presidential election. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting -- about 47 percent -- did not change statistically from four years earlier. (Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004, athttp://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986

.html)

    Serving our Country

    1.1 million

    The number of Hispanic veterans of the U.S. armed forces. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)