Latino children now make up almost one-half of all children under age 5 in California, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. For policymakers and educators to successfully help these children enter school healthy and ready to learn, we must find out more about the living conditions of their parents.

In many cases, these conditions are dramatically different than those of other Californians. Latino families have higher levels of poverty, lower levels of educational achievement, low wages, overcrowded housing, inadequate health care and limited English proficiency. As a result, Latino parents face greater obstacles in supporting positive life-course outcomes for their children.

For instance, Latino families are the most impoverished in the state, with the lowest median wage of all ethnic groups in California. Twice as many Latino families as non-Latino families have a family annual income of $30,000 or less. Latinos also account for two-thirds of the state's overcrowded households and three-quarters of the state's most severely overcrowded households.

Many Latino parents with young children have low levels of educational completion, which partially accounts for their high level of participation in low wage jobs; four out of five farm workers, two out of three assembly workers and one out of two household domestic workers are Latino. Of Latino workers statewide, almost half do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent; less than 15% of Latino workers have some college or more.

Nearly half of Latino children ages 3 to 5 were not enrolled in preschool or kindergarten in 1997. Moreover, four out of five of those Latino children enrolled in kindergarten are classified as limited English-proficient.

Perhaps most dramatically of all, Latinos are twice as likely to be uninsured as any other ethnic group: 32% of all Latino children (0-18) are uninsured. Many eligible Latino families are not using state-funded programs that provide child health insurance (Medi-Cal and Healthy Families) and preschool education and child care (CalWORKs). Many Latino families lack information about these programs, do not know that they are eligible, find the application process too confusing or fear that their immigrant status may label them a "public charge."

In the first issue of the "Latino Policy and Issues Brief," published by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center this month, I recommend that policymakers, elected officials and service providers develop a more coordinated approach to early- childhood development that takes into account the impact of "adult" issues — employment, housing and healthcare — on children. This approach should focus on improving parents' wage-earning potential as well as their access to affordable housing, education and healthcare. In particular, culturally tailored outreach efforts are crucial to overcoming factors that may inhibit many "at risk" Latino families and children from enrolling in publicly funded programs.

An investment in such families today will yield positive results for California's social and economic future tomorrow.

Becerra is professor of policy studies and social welfare in the School of Public Policy and Social Research.