For Immediate Release January 24, 2006

For More Information Contact: Marilyn Yurk, 317-261-3047 myurk@iupui.edu

Latino Population Boom Impacts Central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – The Latino population in Indianapolis is booming—bringing both benefits and challenges to the community.

Researchers at the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment have completed a study of Latinos in Central Indiana that documents the population boom and explores the needs and characteristics of the local Latino population. The Center conducted the study in partnership with Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates for La Plaza, a key Latino nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve, empower, and integrate the Latino community of Central Indiana.

The researchers showed that Latinos are the fasting growing population group in Indianapolis, with a population that expanded from approximately 13,500 to 47,000 between 1999 and 2004. Along with this is a Latino baby boom—Latino births in Indianapolis increased 422 percent between 1997 and 2004 (from 468 to 1,977 births), a change that affects childcare providers and schools. In school year 2004–2005, an estimated 9,900 Latino children were enrolled in Marion County schools, 7 percent of the total enrollment.

Other findings discussed in the report include:

• Latino families are more likely to live below the poverty level (17 percent compared to 9 percent of the entire population). But on the plus side, they are more likely to have two parents in the household. Among all families with children under 18 and living under the poverty level, only 16 percent consisted of married couple families, while among Latino families in this group, 40 percent were married couple families.
• The Center found a high need for programs that can help Latinos complete their high school education or GED. Among Latino adults, almost half of the males and 42 percent of the females do not have a high school degree.
• Many Latinos are immigrants (61 percent) and 37 percent have been here five years or less. Estimates of those who speak only Spanish range from 23 to 44 percent. The researchers found a high need for programs that can help Latinos improve their English language skills.
• Latino babies are getting off to a good start in some ways. In Marion County in 2003, the infant mortality rate for Latinos was better than for whites. Latino babies are more likely to be normal gestational age (93 percent) when compared to white babies (89 percent) and black babies (86 percent). Latino babies are also more likely to be normal birth weight.
• Latino mothers were much more likely to breastfeed (87 percent) than white mothers (64 percent) or black mothers (46 percent). And while Latino mothers are less likely to receive prenatal care (59 percent compared to 77 percent), they are less likely to smoke during pregnancy (12.6 percent compared to 18.2 percent) or abuse chemicals (0.3 percent compared to 2.4 percent)
• According to a national survey, Latinos hold generally positive views of their local schools, teachers, and educational institutions, and Latino parents say they are active in their child's school and involved in their education, but many Latinos worry that their children lag behind because teachers are unable to bridge the cultural divides in their classrooms.
• There are substantial differences between immigrant and native Latinos (who do better than immigrants, with one factor being better language skills) in high school dropout rates and college attendance, but both groups are below the national averages.
• While approximately 70 percent of Latinos in the United States were Catholic in 2002, a growing number identify themselves as other denominations. Religion and spiritual influences often are very important in Latino culture. When Latinos join a new community, one of the first places many of them visit is the local church, both for spiritual guidance and social connections.
• There is e vidence that religiosity among Latino teenagers is associated with stronger connections to school and staying “on-track” educationally. Religion plays an especially positive role in supporting educational achievement among Latinos who live in impoverished neighborhoods.
• Research shows that one distinctive cultural attribute is the Latino value of family unity, loyalty to the family, and an emphasis on cooperation rather than competition among family members and friends. Latino families have a strong sense of family identification and support for extended family and friends.
• Health insurance is a problem for many Latinos. The researchers found that 44 percent of the Latino adult population in Indiana was uninsured in 2003, compared to 14 percent of the white population.

Miriam Acevedo Davis, executive director of La Plaza, Inc., said that the Center's report is much needed to focus attention on the needs and assets of the local Latino community.  “Center researchers have made a wonderful start with this report, and it lays the groundwork for a comprehensive needs assessment.” The report, Hispanic/Latino Needs in the Indianapolis Area: An Initial Overview, discusses education, health and social services, economic development, and arts and culture for the Latino population, and it is available from La Plaza at (317) 634-5022.

In addition, the Center developed an issue brief focused on educational issues that is being distributed to leaders and policymakers in Indiana. Called, Emerging Issues in Education: Latino Population Boom Impacts Indianapolis, it is available via the Center's Web site
( http://www.urbancenter.iupui.edu/PubResources/pdf/157_06-C01.pdf ).

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