Latino children fall well behind white children in most measures of well-being, according to the recently-released Latino Kids Data Explorer by the National Council of La Raza.
The database can be used to see how Latino and other children are doing healthwise, according to 27 measures of well-being. Researchers are concerned about the data, citing that Latino children, one of the fastest-growing child populations in the country, will make up the future workforce and pay taxes, according to a recent La Raza blog post.
On top of a tax increase on Jan. 1, the U.S. will undergo cuts to education, health, housing, and job training, programs – unless Congress takes action to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” Experts believe that falling off the “fiscal cliff” could slow or even reverse economic growth, increasing unemployment while cutting programs that help families.
Latino children could see a two-fold negative impact if Congress cuts programs many depend on. The first hit is decreased access to education, possibly reversing progress Latinos have made over the last 10 years in graduating from high school, getting health insurance, and attending preschool. The number of Latino children living with mothers who have less than a high school education or live in poverty will likely increase. Secondly, cuts to entitlements like Social Security and Medicare will be felt in the future by a poorer and less healthy generation.
Graphic by National Council of La Raza