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In Full Health / Resources / Articles / Hispanic Heritage Month Highlighted Resources HHS.gov
Nov 06
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Hispanic Heritage Month Highlighted Resources HHS.gov
  • Articles, Resources
  • Accessibility and Usability, Digital Health, equitable health innovation, health innovation, inclusive health care, Latinx communities, Technology

HERITAGE HISPANIC MONTH

Resources

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Many SDOH have a major impact o

n the health, well-being, and quality of life of Hispanic/Latino communities, such as:

  • Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods
  • Racism, discrimination, and violence
  • Education, job opportunities, and income
  • Language barriers and literacy skills

 

SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don’t have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition, which can raise their risk of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Use this page to learn more about the SDOH affecting Hispanic/Latino communities and to find helpful resources from OMH’s partners to share with your communities, patients, and organizations.

Visit Health People 2030 to learn more about SDOH, learn about federal efforts to address SDOH, and explore research related to SDOH.

Visit the CDC’s website to find tools for putting SDOH in action.

Economic Stability

Economic stability refers to a person’s ability to find and maintain a steady income, as well as earn enough money to afford things that help them live a healthy lifestyle. Being a homeowner, working in a safe environment, having access to affordable childcare, and having financial savings can help increase economic stability. When a person is economically stable, they can afford steady housing, healthy food, and health care.

According to a 2020 report from the Joint Economic Committee, there are an estimated 29 million Hispanics in the U.S. workforce, making up 18 percent of all workers. The unemployment rate for Hispanic Americans is higher than overall unemployment rates but has been dropping steadily. Latinos are more likely to hold jobs in industries that have above-average risks of injury and exposure to harmful chemicals, such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality.

Hispanics in the U.S. tend to have lower-paying jobs than non-Hispanics. In 2018, the median income for Hispanic households was nearly $20,000 less than the median income for non-Hispanic white households. The pay gap is even larger for Hispanic women.

Despite lower wages and less financial capital, Hispanics are more likely than any other group to become new entrepreneurs. As of 2017, experts believe there are at least four million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., contributing over $700 billion annually to the American economy.

Want to learn more about how economic stability impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.

Federal Resources:
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Money Smart: Money Smart offers a Spanish-language financial education program to help individuals improve their financial health. The website is also available in Spanish.
MyMoney.gov: A one-stop shop for federal financial literacy and education programs, grants, and other information. The website is also available in Spanish.
Money and Taxes (USAGov): Learn about taxes, money the government may owe you, investing, credit help, and more. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
Government Benefits, Grants, and Loans (USAGov): Learn about government programs providing financial help to individuals and organizations. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
Jobs and Unemployment (USAGov): Find out how and where to look for a new job or career, get help if you are unemployed, and more. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
Small Business (USAGov): Learn the steps to start a small business, get financing help from the government, and more. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
MyCreditUnion.gov (National Credit Union Administration): MyCreditUnion.gov and its financial literacy microsite Pocket Cents provide a list of saving options for college as well as information on other financial services provided by credit unions. The website is also available in Spanish.
Non-Federal Resources:
Workforce Development and the Latino community (UnidosUS)
Social Determinants Factors that Influence your Health – Income: An infographic developed by The Nation’s Health explaining how income can influence well-being and life expectancy.
The Community Action Poverty Simulation (Missouri Community Action Network): A simulation activity that seeks to raise awareness about the complexities of poverty experienced. This resource offers information about the simulation sessions, which last 2 to 4 hours, in addition to how to purchase the simulation materials.
Fact Sheet: Hunger and Poverty in the Latino Community (Bread for the World Institute)
Fact Sheet: El Hambre y la Pobreza en la Comunidad Hispana (Spanish)
SUMA Wealth: The leading financial technology company devoted to increasing prosperity, opportunity, and financial inclusion for young U.S. Latinos. The website is also available in Spanish.
SUMA Academy: A wealth-building digital platform that aims to help young Latinos with personal finance through creating culturally relevant, easy-to-digest material.

Education Access and Quality

Research shows that the more education a person has, the more likely they are to live a healthy lifestyle. Children are more likely to be academically successful when they have access to high-quality education and safe school environments free of violence and bullying. Individuals are more likely to have higher paying jobs if they have a high school diploma, and even more so with a college degree.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Hispanic students enrolled in schools, colleges, and universities has increased substantially between 1996 and 2016, growing from 8.8 million to 17.9 million students. This trend applies to all levels of education, ranging from nursery school to higher education institutions.

College enrollment has more than tripled for Hispanics in the United States. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, a larger percentage of Hispanic college students (over 40 percent) attend two-year colleges rather than four-year colleges.

According to the Pew Research Center, education levels for recently arrived Latino immigrants (defined as living in the United States for five years or less) are high as well. In 2018, the percentage of recently arrived Hispanic immigrants who completed high school was 67 percent, while in 1990, this number was 38 percent.

Despite these positive trends, the percentage of young adult Hispanics who have not completed high school and are not enrolled in school is higher than non-Hispanics. Hispanics aged 25 – 34 also have the lowest percentage of graduate school enrollment compared to white, Black, and Asian Americans.

Want to learn more about how education access and quality impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.

Federal Resources:
National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy (HHS): A national action plan that envisions a restructuring of the ways we create and disseminate all types of health information to ensure that all children graduate with health literacy skills that will help them live healthier throughout their lifespan.
White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics: Originally established in 1990, the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics was re-established in 2021 through executive order by President Joe Biden. The Initiative’s scope was expanded to advance educational equity and economic opportunity for Latino and Hispanic students, families, and communities.
Education (USAGov): Find government information on education, including primary, secondary, and higher education. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education): This online tool was designed with direct input from students, families, and their advisers to provide the clearest, most accessible, and reliable national data on college cost, graduation, debt, and post-college earnings.
Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education): They provide more than $125 billion in federal grants, work-study, and loans for students attending career schools, community colleges, and colleges or universities. Their information center helps students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and provides the public with free information about their programs. The website can be converted into Spanish.
Non-Federal Resources:
Education and the Latino community (UnidosUS)
Social Determinant Factors that Influence your Health – Education: An infographic created by The Nation’s Health about the connection between education and healthier people.

Health Care Access and Quality

Being able to access and use high-quality health care services is a critical part of preventing disease and keeping people healthy. There are many reasons why people cannot access or use health care services: language barriers, lack of transportation, health care costs, inability to find childcare, inability to take off time from work, and discrimination when receiving health care can all factor into a person’s ability or willingness to use health care services.

Health care access and utilization vary widely in the U.S. Hispanic population. Factors include age, country of birth, English language fluency, and length of residency in the U.S. Hispanics aged 65 and older are more likely than younger Hispanics to have a primary care provider and are more likely to have seen a provider in the past 12 months.

The percentage of Hispanic Americans with health insurance has risen over the past decade. However, this group is still more likely than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. to be uninsured.

Language barriers influence health care utilization as well. Approximately 46 percent of Hispanic American adults say they have a close family member or friend who requires interpretation services or a Spanish-speaking health care provider, and 50 percent of Hispanic Americans say it is difficult to understand the process of getting medical care and have had negative experiences receiving health care.

Want to learn more about how health care access and quality impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.

Federal Resources:
QuestionBuilder App: The HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) QuestionBuilder app helps patients and caregivers prepare for medical appointments and maximize visit time. Also available in Spanish.
All of Us Research Program (National Institutes of Health): The NIH All of Us Research Program is a platform for conducting research whose goal is to create diverse databases of health information, which will allow researchers to understand and address health disparities in underrepresented populations. Also available in Spanish.
From Coverage to Care: A Roadmap to Better Care and a Healthier You: This roadmap explains what health coverage is and how to use it to get primary care and preventive services so that you and your family live long, healthy lives. Available in Spanish and multiple other languages.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Consumer Resources in English and Spanish. Resources are also available in multiple other languages.
Health (USAGov): Find health resources from the government. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
Non-Federal Resources:
Health and the Latino community (UnidosUS)
Therapy for Latinx: A database of therapists who either identify as Latinx or have worked closely with Latinx communities and understand their needs. The website is available in English and Spanish and offers other helpful tools and resources.
Mental Health America: Has Spanish-language tools and resources regarding mental health for Latinos, along with articles and ways to get help.
NAMI Compartiendo Esperanza: A helpful tool that includes a three-part video series to increase mental health awareness in Latino communities.

Neighborhood and Built Environment

Safe neighborhoods allow people to live healthier and happier lives. Racial and ethnic minority populations are more likely to live in areas where there is violence, water and air pollution, exposure to toxic substances, a lack of trees and green spaces, loud noise, and a lack of access to healthy foods. All these factors can directly or indirectly impact a person’s health.

A 2019 report from the Joint Economic Committee states that 94 percent of Latinos currently live in urban areas, but this is changing. States with historically low Hispanic populations, such as North and South Dakota, are experiencing fast increases in Hispanic residents.

Hispanic Americans are far more likely than non-Hispanic white Americans to be concerned about environmental issues. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 71 percent of Hispanic adults state climate change has affected their community, compared to 54 percent of non-Hispanic adults. This percentage is even higher for foreign-born Hispanics.

According to Yale Climate Connections, an initiative of the Yale Center for Environmental Communication, several research teams have found that Hispanics are often disproportionately affected by environmental factors. Many predominantly Latino neighborhoods have a higher risk of flooding, drought, and air pollution. These neighborhoods often have fewer green spaces, which are known to lower temperatures during extreme heat.

Want to learn more about how neighborhoods and built environments impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.

Federal Resources:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): HUD offers housing counseling to help consumers make informed housing decisions. HUD works with organizations, such as UnidosUS, to develop and support Latino homeownership programs in various states. The website can be converted into Spanish.
Housing (USAGov): Get information and services to help find and keep a home. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
Non-Federal Resources:
Housing and the Latino community (UnidosUS)
Social Determinant Factors that Influence your Health – Housing: An infographic created by The Nation’s Health addressing where and how people live, can influence how healthy they are and how well they live.
COVID-19 Informational Guide for Public Housing Residents – Know the Basics of Seeking Care: A bilingual tool developed by the National Center for Health in Public Housing to provide general information on how public housing residents can seek care for COVID-19 testing services provided by health centers near public housing agencies and how the Public Charge rule does not apply for these services. Also available in Spanish.
Resources Related to Coronavirus and Rural Housing (Housing Assistant Council): This webpage presents a list of COVID-19-related resources that pertain to housing. Although the webpage title explicitly refers to rural housing, it links to resources that typically pertain to housing in general that would be relevant to readers interested in housing in both rural and non-rural areas.
The EveryONE Project: Neighborhood Navigator (American Academy of Family Physicians): Allows users to search by zip code for resources and programs in their neighborhood to address their patients’ social determinants of health (SDOH). Provides information on food, housing, goods, transportation, health, care, education, employment, and more. The tool can be converted into Spanish and other languages.
Health Equity Report Card (Salud America!): The Health Equity Report Card generates local housing, transit, healthcare, and other data so you can drive the healthy change your community needs most.
School Food Pantry Action Pack (Salud America!): A free guide to help school personnel talk to decision-makers, work through logistics, and start a School Food Pantry to help hungry students and reduce local food insecurity.

Social and Community Context

Social and community support can greatly improve a person’s health and well-being. Positive, healthy relationships and community engagement can buffer disruptive environmental factors, especially for children and young adults. Disruptive factors can include incarceration, deportation, discrimination, bullying, and violence. When these disruptive and stressful factors are present, a person’s overall stress level (often called “allostatic load”) can directly influence their mental and physical health.

Discrimination and deportation remain key sources of stress for many Hispanic Americans. A Pew Research Center survey found that 23 percent of Hispanic Americans were criticized for speaking Spanish in public, and 20 percent were called offensive names in the past year. Research also shows that over 39 percent of Hispanic Americans worry that they or an individual close to them could be deported. In 2019, 80 percent of Hispanics living in the U.S. were citizens. This is an increase from 74 percent in 2010.

According to Voto Latino, a growing number of Hispanic Americans are exercising their voting rights. Experts believe over 16 million Latinos voted in 2020, an increase of nearly 40 percent since 2016. Around 12 million Latinos are eligible to vote but are not registered.

Want to learn more about how social and community context impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.

Federal Resources:
Promoting Health Equity: A Resource to Help Communities Address Social Determinants of Health: A workbook developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for public health practitioners and partners interested in addressing social determinants of health in order to promote health and achieve health equity.
Voting and Elections (USAGov): Find answers to common questions about voting in the United States. The webpage is also available in Spanish.
Non-Federal Resources:
Latino voting rights in the US (UnidosUS)
Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit (The Farmers Market Coalition): The toolkit was developed by a group of Black food systems leaders and market managers to help put anti-racism concepts into practice within farmers markets. The aim is to improve market experiences for Black, Latino, and other people of color.
The Latino Victory Fund: an organization dedicated to building political power in the Latino community so that the voices and values of Latinos are reflected at every level of government and in the policies that drive our country forward.
Voto Latino: a pioneering civic media organization seeking to transform America by recognizing Latinos’ innate leadership. Their work focuses on building a pipeline meant to serve and empower our community, consisting of three parts: civic engagement, issue advocacy, and leadership development. The website is also available in Spanish.
GreenLatinos: an active community of Latino/a/x leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation. The website is also available in Spanish.
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