• Basic Information
• Additional Info

Basic Information

• Project No. and Title: NCERA216 : Latinos and Immigrants in Midwestern Communities
• Period Covered: 09/01/2019 to 08/19/2021
• Date of Report: 08/19/2021
• Annual Meeting Dates: 06/16/2021 to 06/16/2021

Participants

Ruben Martinez, Michigan State University Corinne Valdivia, University of Missouri Kim Grader, Iowa State University Hector Santiago, NIFA Advisory Veronica Perez-Picasso, University of Missouri Athena Ramos, University of Nebraska at Lincoln Ness Sandoval, St. Louis University Stephen C. Jeanetta, University of Minnesota Gerardo Martinez, University of Missouri at Kansas City Debra Bolton, Kansas State University

Accomplishments

Impacts

1. Impact Statement: The members of NCERA 216 collaborated across state lines to address inequities in Latinx, Indigenous, and other communities high in historically underrepresented and excluded identities. Key in our members’ cross-discipline and multi-state collaborations includes: 1. Publications and guides that address safety and historical barriers to access: Bolton, Debra J. H. (2021, March 11, 2021). Strengthening Financial Avenues in Native American Communities. MoneyGeek. https://www.moneygeek.com/financial-planning/financial-resources-native-american-communities/#insight-from-native-experts Bolton, Debra J. (2020). Finding home: Displaced African Women in Rural Southwest Kansas. Chapter 9. African Women and Their Networks of Support: Intervening Connections. Cloete, E., Mariah E. Crystal, and Martha N. Bannikov, Eds. Lexington Press. Greder, K., Cancel-Tirado, D. I., Routh, B., & Bao, J. Engaging with rural Latino families. Special Issue on Rural Low-Income Families (Berry, A. and Greder, K., Eds.), Forum on Family and Consumer Issues, 23(1). Online journal. First made available March 2021. Kilanowski, Jill (2020/01/23). Agricultural Safety Comic Book for Latinx Migrant Families: Development and Evaluation, VL - 34, DO - 10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.11.003. Journal of Pediatric Health Care Under Review for Publication: Sahbaz, S., Cox, R.B., Washburn, I.J., Lin, H., and Greder, K.A., PROMIS Pediatric Psychological Stress Measure: Validity for Immigrant Latino Youth. Family Relations. Arellanes, J., Greder, K., and Lohman, B. The Intersection of Work and Cultural Values of Latino Fathers in their Children’s Educational Attainment. Journal of Latinos and Education. Bao, J. and Greder, K. Economic Pressure and Parent Acculturative Stress: Effects on Rural Midwestern Low-income Latinx Child Behaviors, Journal of Family and Economic Issues. 2. Partnerships that continue to address barriers to access for Latinx populations: • Working with The Annie E. Casey Foundation in the Children’s Health Leadership Network to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from sixty days to twelve months, in an effort to reduce infant mortality among minority infants. When mothers have healthcare coverage, they can address health issues such as postpartum depression, provide better care for their newborn, and reduce the risk of infant death. Postpartum extended coverage will benefit those women of reproductive age in Kansas who qualify for Medicaid, primarily from minorities. The number of childbearing aged woman in Kansas is 638,770. Extended coverage for postpartum mothers is separate from Medicaid Expansion. • Working with Ogallala Commons to bring internship opportunities to minority students and young entrepreneurs. All the marketing materials from Ogallala Commons have been translated into Spanish, for parents to learn about the opportunities for their youth and encourage them to take advantage and gain work experience while in school. In addition to internships, Ogallala Commons is seeking to rebuild local food sheds in Kansas. We continue to talk with local producers and assist in connecting them with the customers in their area so that minorities and low-income families gain access to local fresh fruit and vegetables. Educational and networking opportunities are offered via in person and zoom conferences. • Working with the Kansas Hispanic and Latin-American Affairs Commission to bring information in Spanish about Covid-19 vaccine and bringing mobile clinics to marginalized areas where Hispanic and other minorities live. Collaboration with Community Health Coalitions and Health Departments as well as Hispanic radio stations and social media. Making Covid-19 testing available to minorities free of charge. • Collaborating with local agencies to ensure that minorities have access to food via local food pantries and collaboration with local agencies to secure food for minorities affected by the pandemic, including but not limited to Tyson foods. More than one thousand food boxes a month have been added to cover the need of families affected by the pandemic. This is in addition to the food provided by the local food pantries • Working with the Department of Children and Families to provide Nutrition Education to low-income families and assisting with information in how to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Medical Assistance for those whose lives have been affected by the pandemic. • Working with the Latina Breastfeeding Coalition to ensure that Hispanic mothers are allowed to pump at work upon returning from maternity leave. Providing information in Spanish about their right to continue breastfeeding their newborn babies. • Working with local Community College to ensure that first generation Hispanic students have the tools they need to succeed in higher education. First generation minority students and their parents are connected with support programs at Garden city Community College to receive the support they need in order to navigate the higher education system. • A new family focused career and college readiness curriculum, Salir Adelante, was developed for Latinx families who have youth in middle school. The curriculum was informed by research with over 1000 Latinx youth and parents in Iowa, as well as findings from previous studies. Twenty-four individuals across five communities who work for schools and private non-profit agencies, and During 2022, an additional thirty individuals who work for schools, private non-profit organizations and Extension will be trained to implement the curriculum across five additional communities. Discussions are underway regarding sharing the curriculum with other states that are interested in career and college readiness for Latinx youth and their families. • Two grants focused on promoting career and college readiness among Latinx immigrant families were prepared and submitted, but not funded. • Provided a Farm Management Course to Latino farmers in Southwest Michigan. This continues the work that gave rise to the interstate project by NCERA 216 researchers in Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa (NIFA, USDA-funded project from 2016-2020; Latino Agricultural Entrepreneurship Strategies, Networks Of Support, And Sustainable Rural Development). Fifteen farmers increased their knowledge in the areas of finance, leadership, labor, and food safety. • Through the Latino Agricultural Entrepreneurship Strategies, Networks Of Support, And Sustainable Rural Development project we developed a Farm Assessment Instrument for service provider to use when initially visiting a Latino-owned farm. We also developed a sheet that provided “Tips for Working with Latinos” also for providers to use. • Martinez (Michigan), Valdivia (Missouri), and Jeanetta (Minnesota) conducted a series of webinars (3) with farmers and providers in the development of the materials on these materials. We also presented some findings from the project at the Annual Cambio de Colores Conference and at the monthly meeting of the Michigan Interagency Migrant Services Committee. o Milestone: Developed materials for use by service providers working with Latino farmers. Shared results from the project at professional conferences and meetings of practitioners. Information-sharing is critical in promoting the integration of Latino farmers among the service subsector of our agricultural industry. 3. Scholarly Presentations and Best Practices: a. Cambio de Colores is where all members come together to present research on publications, best practices, and collaborations among NCERA 216 members. One of the most important factors in the Cambio de Colores conference is the mentoring of graduate students’ research.

Publications