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Addressing underage drinking among Latinx students

By Rosa Arvizu


The consequences of underage drinking can contribute to short and long-term consequences among teens (CDC). In 2016, the Communities for Positive Youth Development (CPYD) Coalition identified the priority population after reviewing the 2016 Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) data across 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. The process by which contributing factors to underage drinking (retail access, social access, permissive social norms, and low perceived risk) were prioritized was based on a scale of 0-5, where each sub-factor received one point if the IYS indicator was worse locally in 2016 than the 2014 Illinois rate and one point was allotted if the IYS indicator was getting worse over time. Members determined that based on the data, the following sub-factors would have to be addressed through evidence-based strategies: provision by parents (with and without their permission), provision by other adults, and permissive family norms. 12th graders were the sub-population that most affected the prioritization process: of the eight indicators that were trending in a negative direction and/or worse than the state’s 2014 rate, five of the indicators were based on 12th grade data.



34% of the 30-day consumption rate was attributed to those identifying as Hispanic/Latino, according to the 2016 Illinois Youth Survey



On April 26, 2018 upon further review, a health disparity was identified as 12th grade Latinx students, a determination based on two things: data showing that while only 22% of 12 graders identified as Hispanic/Latino, 34% of the 30-day consumption rate was attributed to those identifying as Hispanic/Latino, according to the 2016 Illinois Youth Survey results and disaggregated data addressing contributing factors by racial/ethnic group requested by SPF-PFS staff.


Staff reviewed the data for each indicator and recorded the racial/ethnic group, these indicators included:


  1. In the past year, have your parents/guardians talked to you about not using alcohol?

  2. During the past year, did you get alcohol from the following source? My parents with their permission.

  3. During the past year, did you get alcohol from the following source? My parents without their permission.*

  4. During the past year, did you get your alcohol from the following source? An adult other than my parents with their permission.*

  5. During the past year, did you get alcohol from the following source? An adult other than my parents without their permission.


Below is a list of specific strategies that were identified to serve the prioritized population and are currently taking place in our communities:


  • Spanish language newsletters, flyers, and surveys are created by bilingual staff; translation services have been offered to community partners in the past; staff have also translated Kenneth Young Center’s informational flyer into Spanish.

  • Staff created a virtual support group for resources and discussion targeting local Latinx families in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Palatine, named “Latinos Prosperando en los Suburbios del Noroeste de Chicago”

  • Conducted targeted outreach at Spanish-speaking events and/or community agencies that work with the Latinx population

  • Materials (images and messages) are reflective of the community’s diversity

  • Work with local hispanic businesses to display underage drinking prevention communication campaigns

  • Obtain local data sources to identify Health Disparities

  • Coalition meetings take place at Trickster Art Gallery – a cultural organization that is located in a neutral location, not affiliated with any one school but easily accessible by residents of all three villages

  • In addition to these identified resources, there are multilingual and bilingual persons on staff that are willing to assist with translation and attend Spanish-speaking events.

  • Coalition is co-chaired by bilingual people of color (Latinx and Native American) and the Kenneth Young Center’s staff is composed of an African American, multilingual Indian and bilingual Latinx.

  • Coalition created an LGBTQ+ network with an emphasis on people of color and intersectionality: The North Suburban Community Network


While efforts targeting Latinx families are continuous and ever-changing, join the conversation virtually through our Facebook group: “Latinos Prosperando en los Suburbios del Noroeste de Chicago” or email Rosa at rosaa@kennethyoung.org.



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