Psychiatric hospitalization among Latino children and young adults in California are dramatically rising, especially among minorities, including Latinos. Among Latinos age 21 and younger, rates rose 86% from 2007 and 2014 according to new state data. The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development collected the data, which amounted to over 17,000 Latinos during this time period. The cause for the trend has not been determined, however, theories including a lack of culturally and linguistically engaging mental health services for Latinos as well as the social stigma in the community are thought to be part of the overall problem. “Often, [Latinos] wait until they are falling apart,” said Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, professor at the University of California, ...
Latinos make up the majority of residents in Watsonville, California---around 80%. Although many people in the city struggle with obesity (Watsonville's childhood obesity rate is 49%), local youth have been working to make amazing, healthy changes. Jóvenes SANOS, a youth advocacy and leadership group in Watsonville, has worked hard to encourage healthy dining options, help a corner store stock and market healthy foods and get junk food and sodas out of city METRO facilities. Despite these successes, the food environment in Watsonville is still being threatened. On June 2nd, the Watsonville Planning Commission will vote on allowing another fast-food restaurant in downtown: Taco Bell. But the youth of Jóvenes SANOS and city residents are rallying together to oppose the addition ...
Students all over Philadelphia are getting hyped about eating healthy and moving more, thanks to a new campaign.
The HYPE campaign (which stands for “Healthy You. Positive Energy.”) supports youth councils in approximately 100 middle and high schools, all working to get their schools HYPE by improving access to healthy foods, decreasing the availability of unhealthy foods and increasing opportunities for physical activity. The HYPE program is a partnership with The Food Trust, the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Get Healthy Philly initiative. Youth councils plan and implement a range of healthy activities including fitness clubs, movement breaks, healthy fundraisers, school gardens and healthy pledge events, all with the goal ...
You've probably heard stories of how a Latino youth achieved success and overcame poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, discrimination, and other barriers. But how can more youth find such success? A new report by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) examines the personal, environmental, and cultural factors that help resilient youth to learn from adversity and excel. The report mines several success stories and suggests these five steps: Tap into the natural resiliency of Latino youth. These qualities include optimism, perseverance, social skills, empathy, a strong willingness to give back to their communities and family and cultural traits such as responsibility and family solidarity. Help their families escape poverty through living wages and affordable housing. One-third of ...
Check out these new videos that feature minority youths doing Zumba dance moves to inspire kids to have fun and be physically active, thanks to our friends at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Zumba dance blends upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography to provide total-body workouts. These new videos can be used to get your students, family, or team, up and moving for a quick and effective physical activity break. Hey Soul Sista Ghostbusters Love is ...
Check out this neat video about how the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) empowered Latino youth in Chicago and San Antonio to use the Photovoice technique to share their neighborhood's assets and the barriers they face to living a healthy and active lifestyle. Armed with disposable cameras, the youth photographed their surroundings, good and bad. The photos showcased limited access to nutritious foods, unsafe playgrounds, and a general lack of awareness about healthy eating habits. NCLR officials hope the video, which showcases the uphill struggle many Latino kids face to living a healthy lifestyle, can inspire community ...
Children and teens—especially Hispanics—are exposed to a substantial amount of marketing for sugary drinks, such as full-calorie sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks and fruit drinks, according to a new report from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The report indicates that sugary beverages are specifically targeting Hispanic and black youth: Beverage companies have indicated that they view Hispanics and blacks as a source of future growth for sugary drink product sales.
Marketing on Spanish TV is growing. From 2008 to 2010, Hispanic children saw 49% more ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks, and teens saw 99% more ads.
Hispanic preschoolers saw more ads for Coca-Cola Classic, Kool-Aid, 7 Up and Sunny D than Hispanic older children and teens did. The ...
The Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity's new report, Fast Food FACTS: Evaluating Fast Food Nutrition and Marketing to Youth, includes more information about fast-food ads seen by Latino and black youths. As reported by the Multi-American blog:
There is considerable evidence that exposure to marketing for fast food is even higher among African American and Hispanic youth. African American youth view almost 50% more TV advertisements for fast food than do white children and adolescents. Although differences in advertising exposure can be attributed in large part to the greater amount of time that African American and Hispanic youth spend watching television, fast food restaurants appear to disproportionately target African Americans and Hispanics with their marketing efforts. ...
Smoking makes you "Stupidiota." That's the simple thought behind the new bi-cultural youth smoking prevention campaign by DC Tobacco Free Families, which seeks to empower Latino youths to become the messengers and stewards of this cause. A powerful and fascinating creation of Communications-Marketing agency, Elevation, Stupidiota features two TV PSAs inspired by popular video games (The SIMS and World of War Craft), a radio PSA with a catchy Reggaeton beat and other guerilla marketing tools. The campaign equips youth with the tools they need to stay tobacco free and proclaim No Soy Stupidiota (I ain’t no Stupidiota). For more information on Stupidiota, click here. Watch the stupidiota PSA inspired by World of War Craft here or ...
