Children in the Southwest
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BIG IDEAS CHILDREN IN THE SOUTHWEST 2012 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Big Ideas: Children in the Southwest was made possible by the generous support and encour- agement of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, who also contributed a paper to the compilation. In addition, First Focus would like to thank Atlantic Philanthropies, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Foundation for Child Development, an anonymous funder, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their support. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of First Focus or the organizations whose contributions have made this book possible. We have published this series of papers in an effort to facilitate a robust debate regarding policy solutions to improve the well-being of our nation’s children. We wish to thank the authors who have contributed to this publication, for their ideas, innovative thinking, and commitment to children. ABOUT FIRST FOCUS First Focus is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. First Focus takes a unique approach to advocacy, engaging both traditional and non-traditional partners in a broad range of efforts to increase investments in programs that address the needs of our nation’s children. In all our work, we interact directly with policymakers and seek to raise awareness regarding public policies that affect children and families. Our goal is to ensure that these programs have the resources necessary to help our children develop in a healthy and nurturing environment. For more information about First Focus, or to make a donation, please visit www.FirstFocus.net or call 202.657.0670. Questions, comments, or suggestions can be emailed to [email protected]. PUBLISHING NOTE Published in 2012 by First Focus First Focus 1110 Vermont Ave. NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20005 Printed in the United States of America by First Focus Table of Contents Introduction Our Choice: Building Bridges or Fences for the Next Generation � � � � � � 7 by Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Demography The Children Of The Southwest: Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics Impacting the Future of the Southwest and the United States . 11 by Steve H� Murdock, Hobby Center for the Study of Texas and the Department of Sociology, Rice University, Michael Cline, Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, Rice University, and Mary Zey, Department of Applied Demography and Organizational Studies, University of Texas at San Antonio Education Using A Birth To Third Grade Framework To Promote Grade-Level Reading: Promising Practices in Improving Academic Achievement among California’s English Language Learners � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31 by Jessica Mindnich, Ph�D�, Derya Arac, Elizabeth Cavagnaro, Melina Sanchez, Giannina Perez, Marguerite Ries, Samantha Tran, Brad Strong, and Louella Ilog, Children Now Back On Track Through College In The Rio Grande Valley: From Dropout Recovery to Postsecondary Success . 44 by Lili Allen, Jobs for the Future Family Economics & Housing Children, Southwestern States, and the Federalism Problem � � � � � � � 54 by Thomas L� Gais, Rockefeller Institute of Government Big Idea: Stop Taxing the Poor . 66 by Rourke L� O’Brien, doctoral candidate, Sociology and Social Policy, Princeton University, and Katherine S� Newman, Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, John Hopkins University Commissioning Youth: Addressing Housing and Child Well-being in the Colonias Region . 73 by Moises Loza, Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council and Stefani Cox, Research Assistant, Housing Assistance Council Child Welfare, Rights, & Safety A Dream Of Youthful Hopes: Securing the American Dream for the Children of Immigrants� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 84 by Mark Leonard Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General Families on the Front Lines: How Immigration Advocates Can Build a Bridge Between the Immigration & Child Welfare Systems � � � � � � � 98 by Lindsay Marshall, Executive Director, The Florence Project Protecting the Future of Tribal Communities: Ensuring Compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 106 by Thalia González, J�D�, Assistant Professor of Politics Occidental College A True Texas Miracle: Achieving Juvenile Justice Reform in a Tough Economic Climate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 121 by Deborah Fowler, Deputy Director, Texas Appleseed Health Prospects for Continued Progress on Children’s Health Insurance in the Seven Southwestern States: The Perceptions of State-based Advocates � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 134 by Eugene Lewit and Pilar Mendoza, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, with Karen Crompton, Voices for Utah Children; Anne Dunkelberg, the Center for Public Policy Priorities; Kelly Hardy, Children Now; Matt Jewett, Children’s Action Alliance; and Bill Jordan, New Mexico Voices for Children Community Health Workers, Promotores, and Parent Mentors: Innovative, Community-based Approaches to Improving the Health and Healthcare of Children � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 154 by Glenn Flores, MD, Director, Division of General Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Clinical Sciences, and Public Health, The Judith and Charles Ginsburg Chair in Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, TX Children’s Oral Health in New Mexico: Lessons from the Southwest � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 163 by Joanne M� Ray, D�O�, F�A�A�P� OUR CHOICE: Building Bridges or Fences for the Next Generation by Bruce Lesley President of First Focus Introduction 7 The Southwest has long represented the rich diversity of the United States, with families in the region dating back for centuries. Having been raised in El Paso, Texas, a high-growth city lo- cated at the mid-point of the 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexico border, I grew up thinking of the border as a place of great opportunity, enchantment, and grandeur, and yet, also a place of grinding poverty and inequality. Former Census Bureau Director Steve Murdock, who authored the opening paper for this series, reveals that kids in the Southwest region (defined here as the seven states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado) accounted for: • More than one-fourth of America’s child population in 2010; • More than 90 percent of the 2000-2010 increase in America’s child population; • More than half of America’s Hispanic child population; • Nearly one-third of American Indian and Alaskan Native children in the United States; and • More than 40 percent of America’s Asian child population. As such, it is a place that holds the key for much of our nation’s future. We can do right by our children and take advantage of the region’s opportunity, enchantment, and grandeur, or we can fail them. It is our choice as to whether we make the proper investments and decisions about our collective future. To do right by our children in the Southwest and around the country, we need to tackle the problems facing them with a proactive set of solutions that will allow them to reach their full potential. While the problems have been rehashed for decades in the Southwest, as report after report repeats data about bi-national poverty, public health challenges, and issues relating to immigration, what is often missing are the solutions necessary to move the region forward, particularly for children. For example, when I lived in El Paso and worked for the County, we heard repeatedly that El Paso had a higher tuberculosis rate than that of other states. What was desperately missing was a game plan and policy agenda to address the problem. Similarly, when I worked for Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM), it was shocking to discover that a high-ranking federal official did not support coming together on a bipartisan policy agenda to improve the lives and conditions for people along the border due to some underlying racist perceptions. The federal official had adopted a position to purposely thwart progress for chil- dren and their families along the border out of fear that it might inspire increased immigration. Fighting ignorance and prejudice is hard enough but sometimes the obstacle is just apathy or paralysis, as far too many children live in dire conditions without so much as a word by many policymakers. As an example, if you look at poverty rates, the seven Southwestern states have the following overall and adult poverty rates versus those for children: 8 Big Ideas 2012 - Children In The Southwest Individual Poverty Adult Poverty Rate Child Poverty Rate Rate (all ages) (>=18 y�o�) (<18 y�o�) Arizona 17�4 15�0 24�4 California 15�8 13�7 22�0 Colorado 13�4 12�1 17�4 Nevada 14�9 12�6 22�0 New Mexico 20�4 17�2 30�0 Texas 17�9 14�9 25�7 Utah 13�2 12�0 15�7 So where, you might ask, is the hue and cry for immediate action to address this crisis? Be- tween the presidential election and the contested House and Senate races across this country and throughout the Southwest region, is there a candidate calling to cut the nation’s or state’s child poverty rate or putting forth an agenda to do so? Unfortunately, rather than progress and beyond silence, we know that some of the policy decisions that national and state leaders have enacted or are pursuing will clearly fail the next generation. As a result, in some cases, we are heading in the wrong direction. For example: • Texas’s cut of $5.2 billion out of its education