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to the e-Voices MONDAY MINUTE, your weekly email newsletter from New
Mexico Voices for Children. Please take a minute to add your voice to the
pressing issues of the day. Also, tell us what issues you'd like to know more
about so we can tailor the MONDAY MINUTE to your interests. Thanks! October 16, 2006
The Race for Good Health We’ve talked a lot in our Race Matters Task Force meetings about racial and ethnic disparities. Many of these disparities can literally mean the difference between life and death – and nowhere is that more obvious than when looking at health disparities. A recent study by the Con Alma Health Foundation, called “Closing the Health Disparity Gap in New Mexico,” gives a concise, easily understood picture of how disparities along racial and ethnic lines influence health outcomes.
In the report’s Key Findings section (page 14), the issue of historical trauma is brought up and some truly disturbing statistics are cited. For example, Native Americans are 770 percent more likely to die from alcoholism and 420 percent more likely to die from diabetes than the rest of the nation’s population. In fact, Native Americans have the highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the world – a fact that puts Native children at serious risk. With the second highest Indian population in the country, New Mexico has good reason to address this issue.
You can read the whole report here: http://www.conalma.org/2006%20Closing%20the%20Health%20Disparity%20Gap%20in%20NM%20Report.pdf
How the West was Best New Mexicans used to seeing their state on the bottom of every national list have a small reprieve. A recent study by the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), “The New Poor: Regional Trends in Child Poverty Since 2000,” shows no change in the rate of child poverty between 2000 and 2004 in the American West. The country did see increases in child poverty in the Northeast, Midwest and the South.
The report also looked at child poverty along racial lines. Interestingly, child poverty increased in all racial groups, including whites – except among Asian Americans, who actually saw a significant decline! As in many similar reports (including the one cited above), the children of immigrant parents do not fare as well as their counterparts whose parents are American born.
Clearly, regional economies play a role – as do programs the various states have enacted to help working parents keep their heads above water. California, which has the highest population of immigrant residents, has put state-supported safety nets in place for its immigrant children. California was one of only 16 states that actually saw an overall decrease in child poverty levels between 2000 and 2004.
Read the whole report here: http://nccp.org/media/npr06_text.pdf
Getting Ready for Work Of course, child poverty is a complex issue with multiple causes – which is why it tends to be cyclic. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to become adults unable to work their way out of poverty. One major factor in this is education – the quality of which can determine so much about a person’s future opportunities.
Sadly, a report from Corporate Voices for Working Families (CVWF) shows that American youth aren’t graduating from high school with the skills they need to succeed in today's workforce. This comes as no surprise – but it may surprise you to learn which skills were cited as most important.
Nearly three-quarters of the employers surveyed rated “applied skills” as more important than traditional book learning. Among the applied skills cited were professionalism, critical thinking, oral communication, and a good work ethic. Employers also said that high school graduates lack math and English proficiency, including skills in grammar and spelling.
As more and more Baby Boomers reach retirement age the demand for new employees will continue. Meanwhile, our economy is becoming increasingly reliant on complex technology and must work to stay globally competitive. More than ever, we need to prepare today’s youth for tomorrow’s jobs.
Read the whole report here: http://www.cvworkingfamilies.org/downloads/FINAL_PDF_9_29_06.pdf?CFID=8555979&CFTOKEN=61396088
Vote Early, Vote Absentee
Voters registered in Bernalillo County may now vote early or absentee at the County Clerk’s office. Satellite voting sites will open on Saturday. Click here for the whole scoop: http://www.bernco.gov//upload/images/election2006_flyer.pdf
Call for Nominees
Know a young New Mexican who’s made a difference in their community through community service or volunteerism? Nominate him or her for the 2007 Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award. The award honors New Mexico youths in two age groups (13-18 and 19-26) for their work. Nominations are evaluated on evidence of the nominee’s vision, initiative and dedication.
The deadline for nominations is 3pm, Friday, Feb. 9, 2007. If you’d like a nomination packet mailed to you call 505-244-9505, ext. 10. You can also download the forms here: www.nmvoices.org/abysa.htm. The awards ceremony will be Friday, April 20, 2007, in Albuquerque.
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