ABSTRACT
Chicana/os1 are among the fastest growing groups in the United States with a growth rate six times that of non-Hispanic Whites (Giachello, 2001), one that has doubled over the last two decades. Latina/os now represent 11.7%, or around 31.7 million, of this country’s total population. By 2032, Latina/os are projected to represent approximately 20% of the general population. Two thirds of Latinos are persons of Mexican descent, or Chicana/os, and are concentrated in the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, although their numbers are increasing in other states, including Illinois, Florida, and New York. At the same time, more and more Chicana/os are visible in a variety of institutions, including the health care, correctional, and mental health care systems. As a result, the social policy implications of social and health problems among the general Latina/o population, and Chicana/os specifically, are receiving more attention.
