Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Panel: La Familia: The Diverse Characteristics and Economic Circumstances of Hispanic Children and Families

(Social Equity)

Ensuring that Hispanic children thrive in the U.S. is a demographic imperative. Hispanic children currently make up roughly one in four of all children in the United States and by 2050 are projected to make up one in three. Notably, 5.7 million Hispanic children, or one third of all Hispanic children in the United States, are in poverty, more than in any other racial/ethnic group. However, low-income Hispanics, particularly those in immigrant families, have lower rates of participation in many government support programs when compared with other racial/ethnic minority groups. Acknowledging and understanding racial/ethnic inequalities in child-well-being are the first steps in marshalling resources to mitigate the gaps between children of color and their white counterparts. Black-white comparisons often dominate discussions about racial-ethnic disparities. Incorporating the experiences of Hispanic children is essential to ensuring a fuller and well-informed discourse. This panel will provide information that programs and policies can use as they seek to effectively reach and support low-income Hispanic children and families. The papers in this panel will describe the characteristics, experiences, and diversity of Hispanic children and families across different domains. The first paper provides a national portrait of the households of low-income Hispanic children, comparing the household composition and economic experiences of low-income Hispanic children to their non-Hispanic white and black peers. It will note the strengths of and challenges facing Latino families and the diversity within Latino communities and the implications of these for programs that serve Latino children and families. Using a bi-national lens, the second paper examines how recent changes in Puerto to U.S. migration flow influence the living arrangements and poverty exposure of children of Puerto Rican heritage in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. This project is a first step towards assessing the impact of current migration on U.S. mainland and island Puerto Rican child populations. This research has potential to influence U.S. and Puerto Rican family policies and immigrant integration programs. The third study examines the time Hispanic mothers and fathers spend with their children using data from the American Time Use Survey. Although disproportional poor, Hispanic children are more likely to reside in households with stable earnings than their low income peers. Understanding mothers’ and fathers’ work-family time divides may help child care providers and programs serving Hispanic parents better consider how to support parent engagement and family well-being during early childhood. The final paper assesses the link between child care instability and maternal depression among Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. The loss of one’s care arrangement and selection of another can disrupt family routines and cause stress for mothers. Although child care instability is common in the general population, rates among Hispanic immigrants are unknown. It is important to identifying risk factors to prevent or reduce the incidence of depression among immigrant mothers. Taken together, this panel will highlight the characteristics, experiences, and diversity of low-income Hispanic children and families and provide important context for the development of responsive policies and programs to serve the growing population.