ASPIRA Association, Inc., Newsletter

16 Pages·1994·0.57 MB·

by  Maxine Lisboa

D
National Newsletter of the ASPIRA Association, Inc.
Volume No.
ASPIRA parents triumph in elections
en parent participants of the ASPIRA Parents first year of the program was to involve parents
for Educational Excellence Program within the community in the education of their
(elAePctEiXo)ns wfoonr sc1h3o oslea tsc ominm iltotceale s Noivn ember ne cheivledrnetnu.a llyW eb eacnotimcei paptaerdt otfh att het hpeoyl iwcyo ulmda king
ss in the schools. The parents in
g to ASPIRA go basically said ‘WE ARE
owNfee rreeIl ildiianno iitsiA allvAlayP rEeszXh, y c“aoTnohdre d hiepnsaairtteoanrntt s YY REsAoDliYc AitPeNEd OXWc ’o pmamruaennntids t ytop ookss tuepacdpt oirofntl yefrosr atnhedi r
dItu rtionogk tthhee mA PEtXh ree ttrraaiinniinngg sseessssioinosn.s cacnadmipdaaicgyn intgh,r ough door to door
before they became responsive. Now “We would like to see
itnh etyh eairre cohni ldtrheen ’rso ads chtoo olcsh.a”n ging policy $ * mowraen t paerveenrtyso nien votlov ewdo.r k We
SLcohcoaoll E,Si cgChhhto oolpA iPnCE oXau nndp caCirealnmstoes r foCwln ile lm Eeslnitet meoe nn Httiahgreh y Elementpaarrye nt tSoceghleoetochtlee rd, L”otc oa slat ihdeS cCDheholooiplai nGC aorucnicai,l a
Schools. In addition, an APEX parent will Until now, no one participated. We didn’t work
assume the presidency, and three others will sit together. Now we do.”
on the Bilingual Committee of Chopin Elementary
School, while another parent will work in a Chapter ildred Bernal, newly elected president of the
One committee. M Bilingual Committee and member of the
"We are extremely pleased and proud of the Chopin Elementary Local Schoo! Council, said she
aPcrcoovmipdleinsceh meRnotdsr iguoefz -AFPloErXe spcaar,e ntNsa tiion nCalh icPargojoe,c”t said thraadi nbienge n AiPnEvXo lvepdr oviin dethde wsacsh oovlesr y fohre lp1f2u ly.e arsS hbeu t the
Directoofrt heA PEX Program. "Ouro bjecrtive for the dadded that she wamnetnetd itn o hgeert smcohroeo l pbareecnatu sei nvsohlev e-fe lt
that led to more su
Aspirantes "We have a real need for parent
involvement," said Bernal. "I have
Continue Education more
100, Parents need to realize that tyhse yw ork.
don't need to be afraid.”
APEX trainers provided
parents with information and prac-
tice in dealing with such issues as
educational rights, immigration
WE aEspirant issues and schools, school structure
All Other a and placement of students, tracking
AccordinPge rctoe nrte ceinnt Cdoatlal,e g9e0 % of Aspirante seniors are continuing their |lcofo msmtuudneinttys, pGrEoDbl empsr.o grIanm sa,d diatnido n to
education afierh igh school. The national average for all Hispanic
seniors is Continued on page 3
Hasta luego
O issameno A SPIRAS ofuorr AseSrPvIicReAs haansd otnhle dgermoawnnd for
TEaJlreadI; ly aa bimliistsy iottsno, bparanridenn gt gsot, aolgsea tnhdte hrast t avsfofel eukan rtoetoue rnsd, dtofiu ornLiaanltg i hnioosustr o riy3n.2 . thiAsrse a rc otohureng tproy puglraotwiso n
know, this advance our community through within persistent condi ions of
CDoirrencetroi sr 'ttshh aet lwaislt l orrsueeorlso fpthoecendhls ipil.ibdn ir leani A tbSye aPlniIaedRsf AoPu’iruns ec rtohtlemol i etsRcasiltiecionavntne ss i so fa nd ar acchirsomn icaou nrfd n taehcpeecode vs fese frdotteryor ,a A lS htPihIgeghrRoe Av l.ees rtvinelllm se ins t
oatv eAr SPfiIvRe Aa,s National tLaalteinntoss tot othe irh elp fullest p these Dhaesp airntcmleudnemtde eSteicnrmegetiengs t arwiietswh i taPhrn eds mio-s t
Executive Director, I dents Bush and Clinton,
will be moving on to However, Puerto
begin a new job as Ricans and other Latinos
Program Officer at The i say goodbye from this do not yet have the
DFoirdv iFosunidoaotfnio n Education chair I occupy which has given cimoplalcetc titvheat voouirc eganrdo wing
and Culture. me such joys and some head- population deserves
These have been years of not in the federal govern-
great learning and ache: s, where I have made many ment and not in any of
bcheaelnl enygeeasr.s ofT hgeryea th ave friends and ope snly no sWeo ciealtly ’csl eianrsltyi tunteioends . to
apacrceonmtp leaiwns dh pmrceoongmtrsma:um nsi toyf enemies, -Janice Petrovich coopnetni ndSuooeo rsIt. os asyt rgivoeo dtbo ye
mathemat- from this chair I occupy
i©AcSs PaIntRdh Ae s cciraeelnautcmieno nc arofe esraos c,in aattiioonn,a l dwoaolrks tWahesr owucego hnp tritenhpueaesr ee t od ooowurors r.k y outCtol heo aprteloy n, wshucehr ej oyIs h awavhneid c mhsa odhmeae s mhgaienvayedn a cfhmreeise ,n ds
© the opening of the first new to work with youth means to be an and hopefully no enemies. Now I
aCfofninleicattei csuitn ce 1981 (ASPIRA of advocatAeS. PIRA’s organizational wbieliln gb eo ni n tthhee gsitvrianngg ee ndp,o sirtaitohne r of
the restructuring and diversi- accomplishments are many. We than the asking end. My friends
fication of the National Board of have worked with tens of thou- in the philanthropic community
Directors with the addition of new assure me that the job is no
casier. I can’tb elieve them just
the Puerto Rican leadership in this yet
and diversificationo f funds, country has been involved with Thank you for your support
ASPIRA’s growing na- ASPIRA. Nevertheless, the need through the years, Seguimos
tional impact on educational adelante.
and in the national arena.
News from Associates
continued attention to the needs of took advantage oft he opportunity
Latino children and families. to participate in this lively tradi-
tion
SPIRA of Connecticut, Inc. Raúl Martinez, Executive
tBfhareto amBl olAahana rsado fa BoM rfan ierDdwiig aree cpchotGaroairtrrs ,pc teíaraakss.e os.nC . éo svfaeoTrrrh e GDNIanaitcnri.o gen ccaolDtn roturroCgi ob fnuA PftSreePerdIve RenAtnco te i tohneoo ff TPFhtlrihoorer dgi dr:a Ymou tho n hwfoaorsm ei'sst sMauroettse idAv cSaoPatIn eRycAdoe, ur nnbgIiy n gtw nhoeHimrie csonpc'faosnH.n li cicen ro ni s
Conneafcfiltiatie hcasru ectei ved October 19 and 20. He presented a organization caltlhee Antdon ia
local funditnogc o ntinue its workshop called "Building Cultural Pantoja Club. The club will be an
SAcSiPeIncReA AMactahedmeamtiyc s inBa rinddg eport, tBor ipdrgoevsi"d e whyiocuht h fwoictuhs etdh eo nk ntohwel -n eed ocanp en disf ocruusms iwshseurees ryeoluenvgan t Lattoi nas
as well as sponsoring ASPIRA edge, skills, and experiential base society and to their lives. Latinas
Csa clghuroboasln st. i nt o eTdahecehvy e lohfo aptv heea alcloistnoyg' -srr eahcnieggiehv ed tAMoci cdsodullraevdi evS,ec hotthhoeel ,A uSrcbPealIneR bArcar itseiAdsl teHrinsaptainviec apwnialdrlt itbcoei ppaeunnrtcssou eui rn atghe rdee r tcooc hmboemi ucanecistti viteeh sat
plan for work in New Haven, Heritage Month with Caribbean have historically not been open to
As Connecticut moves to regional- Ee choreographed by Elsa women, The club is named after
iAzSeP IiRtsA schocohla ptdiesrt riisc tas,d vtohcea ting for m‘eorr es,S evesrcaile ncsteu tdeeancthse r atf oAr ccoladAccoe- PAaSnPtoIjRaA. foundCeorn tiDnru.e dA notno nnieax t page
ASPIRA parents win elections (continued from page 1)
the training, APEX trainers Election of parents into Local zation of decision-making down to
provided the parents with techni- School Councils is part of the local school level has in-
cal assistance on campaigning and Chicago's broad-based educ: ional creased the number of Hispanic
publicity. reform movement. The decentrali- policymakers Chicago by ove
700, and they seem to be making
Parents elected to the Local School Council: tüfe. A cording to a
Hilda Rivera Clemente High School recent study of the Local School
Delia Garcia Chopin Elementary School Councils, schools with predomi-
Rosa Esteves Chopin Elementary School nantly Hispanic populations were
Jua- na Garcia Cteanmeerr on Elementary School athcet ivmeo sti nvloilkevleym etnot suosft aipnr intchiep als,
Maria Rodriguez Clemente High School teachers, and parents, and were
Lucy Rodriguez Ca lemente Hi: gh School the most likely, tos ybset epmuircs ucihnagn ge.
Researchers speculated that
ispanic schools
Presidento f ‘ommitte can draw on the strong "social
Eudelia Castilla District Delegate resources" of Hispanic commu-
Daysi Crespin Board of Education Delegate nity on nizations, churches, and
Rosa Esteves Secretary families.
P the Chapter O) i
Delia Garcia Chopin Elementary School
More Associate News
ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylva- and Research, headed the statewide The ASPIRA National Office
nia received a $50,000 grant from panel disc Heaiexafiecting as a number of staff
the State Department of Education the Latino family, changes in the past few months.
to continue providing counseling Hilda Crespo, Director of Educa-
sseurmvimceers , to1 1L2a tiLnaot inyoo uthhi.g.h. Tshcihso ol ChairpDearnsioenl Aogtfohs et oB oisa rtdh e onfe w teiiognh ta-nyde arF edAerSaPlI RAA ffaeimrpsl oaynede ,a n has
students explored opportunities in Directors for ASPIRA of New assumed the position of Interim
the private sector. The students York, Ine. Agosto was an National Executive Director as
were monitored by eight college Aspirante in high school and has Janice Petrovich relocates to The
students, who counseled them on been a member of the ASPIRA of Ford Foundation (see article, p. 2).
their placement and career interest. New York Board of Directors Grant Vitale has moved upt o
Fifty-four of the students were since 1990, He has a record of become ManagofeY orut h Leader-
hired for employment after comple- serving the Latino community ship and Community Service,
tion of the program. ." Proyecto Project ADEPT is the new career replacing Mirka Negroni, who has
Alcance" earned the State of readiness program sponsored in moved back to Puerto Rico. Mirka
PPernongsryalmv anPiear'fso rOmuatnsctea ndAiwnagr d for pEamrptl obyym tehnet .N YCT heD eppraorgtrmaemn t of wAiSllP IcRonAt inAuleu mansi a Acsosnoscuilattainotn ,t o Tthhee
extraordinary services to at-risk provides academic assistance, office also welcomes new program
students. Evelyn Briganty and work seminaanrds , after-school ‘stants Miguel Bonilla, Mary
Ana Maria Zayas's project partici- internships in public and private Busch, and Elena Silva. ..T he
wed a 100% school sector organizations. Miranda Foundation has estab-
rmBeoutrseein tnieaotsn s T reAamtdpeml.ie.n. iOsUrtnlriaavntediroos ni Rtsye onpadhnoód-n , a preparAed SoverP 1,I2In0c0. Rdhieg PhAu esrcht,ooo lR ico pslatirsahtneiddci inpaga tsiPcnuhgeo rltaionr sthRhiiepc aAnfS oPrs ItauRnd Aeo nutt -
OsmLI1enreo9slla9ntea1dtic nethturdesAtsod eSh aPiawfnpsIiod lrR la IA w anir pislentplctiA rietlorpruienuxt ecemin emnwtiSiau vcttsehhoe ,fo l tl$tyah1hw er,ea s0s shi0 Lxi0 a.pt .i no nseoIfenxufn amOiimbcocieraetn ssroa sc bteofedionofr o crs nettcashnuoent dl drlee iaennstN gtteOeoasdc bv teleonseimbtfseefbrhroraever.ndert c ds e g Ttoofhhnaaeer l st he (oaaJPtnwAuu ebaPlt lrPyhiedL.oci Pf .r ) ttP..ghhTo reeh l a iedTfAc iuhyPraCes Ptth L LiaFe$olPoa5nl ud0 ene0nNcdr gaesaetsrhtirceiio hmponoC onale nlPan yrrwts ioeIhlngrnlit re pexaf rtmon trs o
ASPIRA, Ine.o f New Jersey rtoe cprruoivtimdeen tt hoefm 7twhi tahn dm o8ttihv agtriaodnearls Snpeawc eM aSrcsi encCeit y dAolnpahtae d ki1t0s toot fhe ir
presented an extraordinary confer- counseling, tutoring and other ASPIRA's Mathematics and
ence on the condition of Latino services to encourage them to keep Science Initiative. Mars City
mStaaltees CoNlolvegeem.b erT he1 9c oant feTrreennctoen, esnercoolnldeadr yi n esdcuhcoaotli oann dg osaelt s po.s.t - Aenlcpohuar aigs ian gc lamsisdrdoloem scshiomoull asttiuo-n
cSatlrlaetde gi"eTsh ef oPr lAigchtti oofn ,L"a tinopr esMenatleed s: AtuStPorIiRngA ino fS pPauneirstho, REincgol ipsrho,v ided dsceinetnsc et,o dteevaeml obpu ilthdeiinrg ,m aatnhd/ cre-
current issues and introduced Mathematics and Science on ative abilities as they plan a city on
solutions, Dr. Angelo Falcón, an Saturdays to low achieving stu- Mars.
IAnssptiirtautnet e foarn dP ueDrtior eRiccatono frPt o hliec y dents throughout the fall.
New support for Latinos in health
nereasing the number of were male. Ninety percent of the One unique facet of the program is
Latinos and other minorities students served resided in the its focus on encouraging students
entering and their major areas of New to utilize their skills to improve the
eisd utchae tifoonc usi n otfh et hhee aAlSthP IpRrAof essions YChoircka gCoi,t y,a nPdh iSlaand elJpuhain.a , Newark, nhietayl th conditionso ft heir commu-
National Health Careers Program, Recently published “ASPIRA remains
which recently received a renewal statistics on the number of Latinos committed to improving Latino
grant from the U.S, Department of entering medical schools in 1993 health care by increasing the
Health and Human Services. The show there is still a tremendous number of Hispanics entering and
three-year grant of $846,234 funds need for programs such as graduating from medical and
the most recent cycle of ASPIRA’s ASPIRA’s. Hispanics make up health professions schools,” said
19-year old program, which serves over 9% of the national population, Hilda Crespo, who directs the
800 students per year in five sites. but they were only 6% of accepted Health Careers Program
Since its inception, the applicants in 1993. The Department of Health
APrSoPgIrRaAm hNaast ipolnaacle dH e9a9l5t h stCuadreenetrss Careers pThreo grNaatmi orneaclr uiHtesa lHtihs panic aDnids aHdvuamnatna geSde rvAiscseiss tDainvcies iBonu reoafu
in medaindhc ealath l professions and other minority high school of Health Professions awarded
schools. The majority of these seniors and college students, ASPIRA the grant through its
students come from low income provides information, counseling, “Health Careers Opportunity
families or fro support, and to Program.” The Department of
isnihoinbsi ts cshuAocopclpe rsosx iimn aat ehleayl th6 5 ppreorfcees-n t sfianictoienlraialtc atst ecwshi otohle sn,thr eya alnitndht o dpihrsoesfaeelmstishni aoptnraeolsfs e,s CHfaeuraneldetehrd s aAnPSdrP oIHgRruAam’mas n f oNrSa etr1i9vo inccaeolsn sHehecaausl- t h
ofth e students served in the past financial aid information to those tive years.
year were female and 35 percent interested in health professions.
New study focuses on impact of
informal math and science programs
he impact of informal math useful to other institutions in science programs for Latino youth.
an © prog The study willr ecognize resources
Latino middle school youth is the Latinos. for supporting informal science
focus of an ew ASPIRA study “ASPIRA’s concern is for ion programs and encourage
sponsored by a $76,000 research
grant from the National Science to increase Hispanic participation based organizations, educators,
Foundation. The study begins this in mathematics and science. We schools and families.
academic year. are interested in finding out what is Currently, ASPIRA's
Hilda Crespo, Director of being done,” said Crespo. informal science programs operate
Education and Federal Affairs, The ASPIRA study will in Chicago, Illinois; Bridgeport,
ssnataituded dy wnialtli oenvaelnltyu.a lCrlbtaeinyesd p ob e dsiaid sisns ethmhiee- mcuroricdulaoe ftehlf afte schtaivv ee sienrfvoerdm ala s Connecticut; and Miami, Florida.
hopes the information will be
In-grade retention
common, costly
were over-age for their grade In addition, in-grade reten
atgnrfHfAhreerifeawSsos ed PempceaI1 atrcr9nRisaEoci9WAn,dihlc2 g vg ui- haa9mNotnnfLn3nrei dac r w s tpi stai es,nnsnn rcwigauochni lm eeoswym tno esgotya lrp eaoi rdesusseairto rsyershfczeue,c, aeeoio rb fnnT.nw te gedoie gxfs ri saoeguTfsrn er we nsacek ifdeelinneprvtsgt et in a osspdbosilstueeeveeh avttcereefon tlrlcfmoew.i -ote r nfn an o IegttbbidoseDaBnest ce gRoceibh senariAesogcpn uvaot lhserluoaot, dedfnyoh e o telnthoo attateivvnu hshssebeadp re rurt opyo-t -ldtu ea ttaehwrrgh,aa gbh o eerteeiep i n cl g ihTaerTddonraea uhuo-redsxtseietgt.o a es hanrps, beiag p end miedTeeatnnEae hAgnt si a ys esweebtrTTxfdiocehhetofuthtioxnrechoas aa ca oi sttnliw mfsiiAe $ oevoedmmr5orenya un 1eaoentsel ia9rhswn tlr, e ea yr 2 og.ye f0tstsr ps oht0paee atude,fathedefnt0t eFde,oeid0 onu cTn r0tctlesg t e iaaxu hanvtepaeasd eavepts nu e o edsrrxrtca issyttagoptnp trrt spugheaaetrd ed sn -ce oett ho $ta unsifh4dtcc lea4eshhd nno 0r, ltoe0 a ln s, t
peracdeenrstnt, oofaf nnHdii nst1ph7a .n5i c 20S tudents kept from advancing to next grade wlmioomuniletdye d boaenm otopu rntetav regneottfi vae
askliilnm digelrargraalrytd eenr,es ta ibnleeadxce,cpt ks In {116 0 E oHisspa nics ahcfesrarosvtniiatsni tngat nutctsoerur boijutnebocgl t,es s .tn uwoditet Unhptt o-so -
tpgsoalsiImsDrNTfiatrbiettnueDee otustauusacwxvnRhtdatdddnehs aeeeehiAeee n lsdernn(lnn ec netttEIotTepmsdsssfxirtDpoohs n .iireeaeR m E nenrpsirtmwdAet tdo noheeue hi rn)irat cer nlnt natiaTaeipgira ite e vk rasonindxeeewn ooerR ga lrhAanrdeesn yaitul s t so hgtygoadatdpee suisAiamtteea i cns togedrrshebalte t ec ofed whno}h toeiofcl o rft1rds y homm9,eu A mra 9axeo8s ej43(nc f s to peTcetteorusEwehon/ci bseeAt itDa-i ri)ay Rov oF,- nilAen r o sowtf GraddnrtsshottefAuaiohetithritoteStuegsur.nn i e dhdsePd onelce aiIntnyhnintnRaRinti tge oloel sAsntcn ods i op rensrcdeiiangtirnroermrso N ueenr fricpdpl t1n bohryoa9itest r ortt7hntnoh6 mtveu ueoa:eeddaefeGelf ed rin s nn saccoPtcttcdsit oeushhoeoau ae ros ulbtsrolh ruw s aaaltoiap t.enorttewg hsdoq erhes eot u m e lRnedinirideTnnrttlenci hthoeitataeaf aoepwhlnstarnnphe c en -rati - tn gis DCA|tNAJPriaCenir.osalrtne nrsolfsapaenaAialbyildg ieCb oehlBSeo,nrwalear tnonhgtra g, oa T uor nXARlArtfs woastamlbsihCsaa tp,aoetna7oesdert iinuf8ntc e, eordo2eA iy fezran2rsHar,i ne8nsmNp SietttFc.ta utis sim eoIeteiertp,oonrDtimn o aantrw eRto annf l einAaWfntisryo ,n,iua3yeco n dr l5n: , dmnt 0fd o ch,aNf rlsm oe5wNramlea8tronaoo)-vdeeo Str re m uoadawes lc n td
tweestrse. reNtianien eodf tienn grsatdued enitn s 1992wh-o9 3 ionugt cdoomeess . not produce desired DNeepwu tYyo rMka, yowrh o fohra sC obmemenu nniatmye d
Service by Mayor Rudolph
Guiliani.
HF acing A Review of Hispanic Health Data
Facts 1994
A Fact Sheet produced by the
ASPIRA National Health Careers Program
Hispanic Representation in Health Fields
c@o mApcrciosred in9g.0 % to tofh e th1e9 9t0ot alU .Sp.o pulaCtenisouns., HiIns ptahnei cfsi eld of
health, however, Hispanics represent only 4.9% ofall
physicians, 1.7% of dentists, 5.3% of health adminis-
trators and nutritionists, 2.9% of registered nurses,
and 2.8% of Public Health Service employees.
(Bureau of Census, 1990)
@ Hispanics represent only 5.2% of students enrolled
in medical education in the fall of 1993. Mexican-
Americans are 2.3% and Puerto Ricans are 1.9% of
all enrollees. (Associationo fA merican Medical
Colleges, November, 1993)
@Less than three percent (2.5%) of faculty members
in American medical schools are Hispanic. Mexican- Dr. Maria Segarra, Office of Minority Health, U.S.
Americans are 0.3%, Puerto Ricans are 0.7%, and Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr
other Hispanics are 1.5% of all faculty. (Association Elogio Gonzalez, optomologist at Bronx-Lebonon
of American Medical Colleges, November, 1993) Hospital, talk seriously about Latino health issues
during an ASPIRA Health Careers panel meeting.
Access to Health Care
@ Hispanics often lack a regular source of health care
Hispanicsar em ore often employed in jobs without 64% of all Hispanics have a regular source of care
health insurance benefits than are Whites. If Hispan- compared with 80% of the total population. (Healthy
ics had the same rate of covera People 2000, Sept. 1990)
percentage of Hispanics with no insurance at all
would drop from 35% to 18%. (National Center for Hispanics often receive medical attention in an
Health Services Research and Health Care Technol- ‘emergency room, and thusd on ot receive proper
ogy Assessment, NMES, 1987) screening or prevention treatment, Nearly 10% of
Hispanics identified the hospital em ney room as a
@ Hispaniarcest h es ingle group most likely to be regular source of medical care compared with 4% of
uninsured. The latest Census figures indicate that in White non-Hispanics. (Cong ressional Hispanic
1992, 33% of Hispanics were uninsured, compared to Caucus News Release, 1993)
14% of Whites and 20% of Blacks. (Congressional
Hispanic Caucus News Release, 1993)
994 The ASPIRA Association,
A Review of Hispanic Health Data
Maternal and Child Health Americans, and 53.4% of Central and South Ameri-
cans begin prenatal care in their first trimester.
@As the graph below indicates, the fertility rates for (National Center for Health Statistics, 1991)
Latino subgroups in 1991 per 1,000 women ages 15-
44, were: Substance Abuse
Mexican-American 121.6
Pi 80.9 in a 1988 study of 27 metropolitan areas in the
United States, 13% of drug-related deaths occurred
among Hispanies. (NIDA, 1990)
(National Center for Health Statistics, 1991)
Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is the 6th leading
cause of death for Hispanic men, at
439
‘Forty-one percent of Mexican
mm Latina Fertility Rates Americans whod ied from alcohol-
related problems did so before age
50, compared to 30% of Whites
who died from alcohol-related
problems. (National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 1992)
@in 1993, 29% of Hispanics
reported they had ever used an illicit
drug, while 10.8% had used an
Other Hispanic Puerto Rican Cuban American ihlaldic itu sderdu ga n ini ltlihcei t pdasrtu gy eianr thaen dp a5st. 3%
month. 9.7% of Hispanics had ever
used cocaine, while 3.7% of Hispan-
Infant mortality figures for 1991 include Mexican ics had used in the past year, and 1.2% Hispanics had
American, 3,057; Puerto Rican, 371; Cuban Ameri- used in the past month. (National Clearinghouse for
can, 63; Central and South American, 270; other Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 1992)
Hispanic, 543;W hite, 18,018; African American,
10,840 deaths. (National Center for Health Statistics, Puerto Ricans and Cuban Americans aged 12
1991) through 17 report higher rates of cocaine use than do
either whites or blacks, and Mexican Americans have
p of Hispanic mothers be; higher rates of marijuana use. (National Coalition of
prenatal care in the first trimester, as do 81% of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations,
White women and6 1.5% of African-Americans. 1988
Within the Hispanic subgroups, 58.o7f% Mexican-
Americans, 65.0% of Puerto Ricans, 85.4% of Cuban
A Review of Hispanic Health Data
Of Hispanics who use drugs intravenously, about who had developed AIDS by December, 1989, more
41% have never been in treatment. Relatively high than 70% were born to mothers whose risk for
proportions of Hispanic clients were reported in contracting the HIV infection had bee sociated
Arizona, California, New Mexico, New York, and with their own intravenous drug abuse or x with an
TUenxiats .S ur(vNeayti-o1n9a8l7 DFriungal aRnedp oArltc,o hNoIlDiAs;m TNrIeDaAt meAnItD S ilanntcrea veRneopuosr t,d rJuagn uaabruy se1r9.9 0()C DC, HIV/AIDS Surveil-
Demonstration Research National Database, Novem-
ber 1989) Hispanic Elderly
‘@Hi spanic teenagers of both genders smoke more than Nationally, heart disease is the number one cause of
tdeoe neaigtehrers . noSni-mHiilsapralyn,i c Hibslpaacnki co r tneoenn-agHeirssp anreipco rtw hhiteea vy death for Hispanics (38.3%) and whites (41.7% ages
drinking of alcoholic beverages more frequently than 65 and over. (National Center for Health Statist
do white or black teenagers. (National Coalition of 1989)
H1i9s8p8a)n ic Health and Human Services Organizations, ‘ch©Tro wniicce laisv erm adniyse aHsie,s paannidc cierlrdheorsliys dtihea no f dnioanb-eHtiess ,p an-
ies. 1.3 million Hispanics over the age of 21, or 10%
AIDS and Hispanics oft he adult Hispanic population, have diabetes.
(National Center for Health Statistics, 1989)
Hispanics, while representing approximately 9% of
tcahsee sU.. S.( CpDoCp,u laHtIiVon/,A IaDcSc ouSnutr vfeoirl l1an6c.e5 % Reopf oarltl, AMIaDrSc h Migrant Farm Workers
1993) ©The infant mortality rate among migrant farm
workers is 25% higher than the national average.
@As of 1993, Hispanic women accounted for 20.4% (Monthly Vital Statistics Report Supplement, Septem-
f i with AIDS, while i ber 26, 1989)
accounted for 15.9% of all men diagnosed as having
AIDS. (CDC's quarterly HIV/AIDS surveillance ©The average life expectancy fora m igrant farm
report, March 1993) worker is 49 years, as compared to the national life
expectancy of 75 years. (Monthly Vital Statistics
AIDS is the sixth most frequent cause of death for Report Supplement, September 26, 1989)
Hispanics and the eighth most frequent cause odfe ath
for Whites, (CDC, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, ©The rate of parasitic infection in migrant farm
March 1993) workers is 50 times that of the total population.
(Monthly Vital Statistics Report Supplement, Septem-
Hispanic children under 13 account for 24.2% ber 26, 1989)
(1,082) of total reported pediatric AIDS cases.
(CDC, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, March 1993)
@Of the 491 Hispanic children under the age of 13
A Review of Hispanic Health Data
Leading Causes of Death information include unreliable Hispanic orgin stat
tics reported by the states, lack ocfri tical patient level
©The following chart shows leading causes of di
for Hispanics and white non-Hispanics in 18 s
and the District of the Columbia, as a percent of total Hispanic health data to provide decisive resul
especially in regard to morbidity and mortality
The Ten Leading Causofe Dseat h This publication was produced for the
Wiesen ASPIRA National Health Careers
pE ene Ese 37% (Program, which is 100% funded by the
17% Cancer 23% |Health Careers Opportunity Program of
io k 7% the U.S. Public Health Service under
6% | Chronic LungD isease 4% grant #1-D18-MB02170-01 in the
5% — Injuri 4% amount of $282,078 for the 1993
e Fanii 749% program year. This publication was
ha as 2% prepared by Hilda Crespo and Nadine
8 Diabetes 3% Suicide 2% ew
9 HIV Infection % — Atheroclerosis 1%
10Perinatalconditions 3% Liver Disease 1% p-Aossnocdiaiti on of American Medical
Monthly Viitalt StatistiAc s Report Supplement September 26, 1989 Ceollegees, No vemberA 19S93
lance Report, January 1990 and March
deaths in 1987. (It should be noted that more recent 1993
data from the Centers for Disease Control show the -Congressional Hispanic Caucus News Release, 1993
ascent of AIDS in the rank of leading causes of death -Healthy People, 2000, U.S. Government Printing
for both Hispanics and non-Hispanics.) Office, September 1990
Availability of Hispanic Health Data -1H9i8s2p-a8n4i,c oHfe tahlet hN atainodn aNlu trCietnitoenr Efoxra mHienaalttih onS tatSiusrtviecys,
-The Hispanic Population in the United States,
wTahse thfeir st Hceoalmtphr eahnedn sNiuvteri tsiuornv eEyx aomfi Hniastpiaonni c Suhreavletyh -MMaorncthh ly19 9V0i:t al U.SSt.a tiBstuircesa uR epofo trhte SuCpepnlsuesm,e nt1,9 90S eptem-
(HHANES) conducted in 1982-84. The next ber 26, 1989
HHANES survey, however, will not be completed -National Center for Health Services Research and
until later in 1994. Other surveys and records avail- Health Care Technology Assessment, 1987
able, such ast he National Health Interview Survey -National Center for Health Statistics, 1991
(NHIS), lack precise information on Hispanic sub-
groups or are not up to date. Additional barriers to
the availability of accurate national Hispanic health