Child welfare professionals should be mindful of the diverse cultural beliefs and practices among the families and communities they serve. On this page, find resources about working with Hispanic and Latino families and how child- and family-serving agencies can better engage and support these families.
Detoxifying Machismo: The Importance of Latino Fathers in Prevention and Recovery (Session 3) [Video]
National Latino Behavioral Health Association (2021)
Presents personal and professional perspectives of Latino fathers working in the behavioral health field.
Early Childhood Education Programs as Protective Experiences for Low-Income Latino Children and Their Families (PDF - 681 KB)
Smith (2020)
Adversity and Resilience Science, 1
Provides a review of how early childhood education can be beneficial to Latino children and mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences and the barriers these families experience while accessing these educational opportunities.
How Can Child Protection Agencies Support Families and Children Who Lack Lawful Immigration Status?
Casey Family Programs (2020)
Identifies common challenges that child protection systems experience when serving undocumented and mixed-status families and presents recommendations on how to address them.
Hispanic/Latinx
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Discusses the unique mental health needs and experiences that Hispanic/Latinx communities may experience while considering identity and culture, barriers to accessing care, and how to seek out culturally competent services.
Latino Grandfamilies: Helping Latino Children Thrive Through Connection to Culture and Family (PDF - 6,783 KB)
Generations United (2021)
Offers a list of resources that can be used by child welfare agencies, government entities, and nonprofit organizations to better serve Latino grandfamilies. The toolkit includes tips and techniques to overcome challenges and increase effectiveness when working with Latino populations.
Latinx/Hispanic Communities and Mental Health
Mental Health America
Offers information about mental health issues in Latinx/Hispanic communities, including demographics, prevalence, treatment issues, and more. The webpage also provides Spanish-language materials.
A Portrait of Latino Fathers: Strengths and Challenges
Karberg, Guzman, Cook, Scott, & Cabrera (2017)
National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families
Examines differences among immigrant and nonimmigrant Latino fathers and their impact on father engagement and child well-being.
Programs Can Build on the Strengths of Latino Families With Low Incomes to Improve Outcomes
Cabrera, Hennigar, Chen, West, Fagan, & Wildsmith (2021)
National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families
Presents data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort to examine couple and coparenting relationships, parenting, and self-sufficiency.
Spotlight on the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families: Building and Translating Evidence on Hispanic Children and Families in the United States
Malin & Rivera (2021)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Highlights the work of the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families, a grantee of the Office of the Planning, Research, and Evaluation.