UC Berkeley | Institute of Governmental Studies

Latinos and Public Policy in California: An Agenda for Opportunity

Latinos and Public Policy in California: An Agenda for Opportunity

David Lopez and Andres Jimenez, eds., 347 pages, Book #4091, $24.95

CONTENTS

Introduction: David Lopez and Andres Jimenez
Chapter 1: Latinos in California: Population Growth and Diversity: Belinda I. Reyes
Chapter 2: Rising Tides and Sinking Boats: The Economic Challenge for California's Latinos: Manuel Pastor, Jr.
Chapter 3: K-12 Public Education: Bedrock or Barrier?: Eugene E. Garcia
Chapter 4: Putting the Cart before the Horse: Latinos and Higher Education: Patricia Gandara and Lisa chavez
Chapter 5: Tipping the Balance: A Flexible, Integrated System of Adult Education: Edward Kissam
Chapter 6: Illness and Wellness: The Latino Paradox: David E. Hayes-Bautista
Chapter 7: Access to Illness Care and Health Insurance: R. Burciaga Valdez
Chapter 8: Latino Mental Health in California: Implications for Policy: Kurt Organista and Lonnie Snowden
Chapter 9: Crime and Justice: Developments in the Last Twenty Years and Priorities For the Next Twenty: José A. Canela-Cacho
Chapter 10: Housing: Crisis or Opportunity?: Dowell Myers
Chapter 11: Latino Political Incorporation in California, 1990-2000: Luis Ricardo Fraga and Ricardo Ramírez
Conclusion: Latinos and Public Policy in California: An Agenda for Opportunity: David López
About the Authors

Despite California's Mexican origins, the Mexican/Latino presence represented no more than three percent of the state's population at the beginning of the 20th century. While this presence grew slowly but steadily during the state's postwar population boom, in the last three decades of the 20th century Latinos emerged as the most dynamic sector of the state's population. In the 1990s Latinos accounted for 85 percent of all population growth in the state. Currently Latinos are one-third of the population and the largest ethnic group among the state's school children. If these demographic trends continue, Latinos will become the absolute majority of the state's population before the middle of this century.

California's future is inextricably intertwined with the fate of its burgeoning Latino population. Despite their growing social and political presence, Latinos as a whole still constitute less than 20 percent of the electorate, possess a smaller share of wealth relative to other groups, and lag significantly behind other groups in educational attainment. These disparities are likely to persist into the foreseeable future and to frame statewide policy debates on opportunity and access.

The UC Latino Policy Institute commissioned this volume to examine the effects of the growing Latino population on the state's policy agenda. In a series of 11 topical chapters, contributors from a variety of disciplines review the status of California Latinos in areas such as education, health-care access, housing, the criminal justice system, economic opportunity, and political participation. The authors recommend policy approaches to enhance opportunities, improve service delivery, and make best or more efficient use of public resources. The UC Latino Policy Institute is administered by the California Policy Research Center, University of California Office of the President, and receives funding from the University of California Committee on Latino Research.