As a young and diverse group, Hispanics constitute a vibrant cultural, social, political, and economic force. One in five Hispanics in the U.S. live in Texas, and Hispanics account for 40.2% of the 29.5 million Texans. While immigration toward Texas has slowed in the past decade, Hispanics are still a growing and young demographic group. Over a third (34.4%) of Hispanics are under 19, and half (50.1%) are under 29.

The Texan Hispanics: Health & Socioeconomic Profile highlights our strengths and challenges to live healthy lives and contribute to the future of Texas. To realize our potential, we must ensure that Texas Hispanic communities enjoy educational and professional opportunities, obtain quality and affordable services, and achieve socioeconomic stability. 

We hope the profile helps us examine the fundamental causes of disease underlying health disparities and inequity simultaneously across multiple health issues, populations, and geographies across Texas. We also seek to demonstrate the need to address our health and social workforce supply shortage. For instance, there is only one community health worker for every 7,172 Texans and one licensed clinical social worker for every 3,373 Texans.

“We look forward to working with community, health, and policy leaders across Texas on developing public policies to increase health access, key protections, fair socioeconomic opportunities, health equity, and dignity for the benefit of all Texans,” stated Guillermo Chacón, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS and founder of the Hispanic Health Network.

The Latino Commission on AIDS led this important project through its Institute for Latinx Health Equity, our community-driven research and innovation program, and Latinos in the South, in collaboration with AIDS Outreach Center (AOC), Borderland Rainbow Center (BRC), Fundación Latino Americana de Acción Social (FLAS), the Hispanic Health Network, Project CHAMPS (Community Action Health Access & Multi-Program Services), the San Antonio AIDS Foundation (SAAF), and the Valley AIDS Council.

The Latino Commission on AIDS would like to thank Gilead Sciences for funding this project and reaffirming its commitment to creating healthier communities.