Bienestar Comunitario: The Latiné Community Assessment 2023

ALAS was honored to coordinate this groundbreaking community-led assessment by and for our Latino community in San Mateo County. The goal of the assessment was to learn more about factors that may influence substance use, sadness, depression, and wellbeing in our community, and to make recommendations to prevent future substance use and improve mental health for Latiné youth and families. We were proud to partner with ten community organizations across San Mateo County and with Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) to conduct this assessment in 2022-23 and co-lead implementation strategies in 2024-2025.

We are happy to share the report with you below. Please complete the form to download.

While Latinos represent about a quarter (24%) of the population in the county, this was the first time an assessment was driven by and for the community.

And while this assessment focussed on youth, our findings underscore the importance of addressing and supporting the whole family, involving parents and other adult family members in AOD prevention and treatment, mental health support, and community engagement.

Our findings indicate 5 key recommendations for agencies in San Mateo County

Address financial challenges to help support families to survive and thrive in this economy.

Decrease substance abuse and normalization in our community by increasing awareness.

Build capacity for existing providers to serve larger numbers of Latino youth and families.

Provide and create intentional outreach for culturally-appropriate services
that are available and accessible.

Support youth-driven and family-centered programs and activities.

Inside the report you’ll find our Agency Self-Evaluation tool.

This is an action-oriented report and there is no one-size-fits-all plan. We know that next steps need to be tailored to the unique needs of each geographic area and service provider. Please take a moment to evaluate your organization, agency, county department, or program using this tool. The guiding question for discussion is: How can you help implement these recommendations to improve resources and help our Latiné youth and families?

You’ll also find a one-page summary of Lessons Learned that we hope can support future community-led assessments, and a Sample Community Partnership Agreement with tips and best practices for partnering with our Latiné-led and serving organizations.

We’ve also included our bilingual reproducible resources postcard with services for mental wellbeing and substance abuse prevention and treatment. We viewed the assessment not as an extractive practice, but rather as another forum for building relationships built in trust and helping guide community members to resources where needed, following the leadership of promotoras in our communities.

Together we can advocate and build toward a more supported future for our youth and families.

This report represents one step in a longer journey toward improving services and bettering the lives of our Latino community in the county. We hope it serves as both a call to action, an invitation to county staff to commit to implementation, and a platform to draw inspiration from where our community is already guiding the way, where solutions exist and can be expanded.

When we look at data we do not think of simple numbers

We think of the people in our communities who are working hard for a good life, who each come with their own family histories, often complex journeys of immigration and economic hardship, each with their own traumas and joys.

Our community-led assessment sought to listen for people’s unique stories

Honoring their lives with care and precision of our recording their input. Too often outside researchers have sought to turn our communities into data points.

As you read this report, please keep in mind the people and families who are behind the numbers.

We hope that the results of this survey will be taken up across county departments in service to expanding access to crucial services and improving life and livelihood for the Latino members of our community. At ALAS, we take seriously the responsibility to ensure these recommendations are implemented.

Agreement of Use

Our intended audience with this report is the staff of San Mateo County agencies toward hearing the needs of our community and improving services and wellbeing in the Latiné community. Community-based organizations (CBOs) may also derive insights and reflection from these recommendations toward increasing accessibility to the Latiné community. Our hope is for San Mateo County to work with CBOs to improve the infrastructure of services being provided to the Latiné community.

Please follow these guidelines when utilizing the data and insights from this report in your work, organization, or government institution and add the following attribution:
This information is sourced from the 2022-2024 Latiné Community Wellbeing Assessment conducted in San Mateo County.

To learn more contact ALAS at alas@alasdreams.com.

We encourage readers to support and engage with the organizations who have guided this project a s you seek to implement the recommendations.

In other words: "Nothing for us without us."

This data is part of a narrative arc and taking one chart or statistic out of context can create harm or misrepresentation. Be aware of ascribing broad characteristics to the whole population or community based on a single survey question.

For more information or if you have questions on attribution, please be in touch.

ALAS is dedicated t o working for social wellness through multicultural practices, mental healthcare, individualized a n d collective support related to education, immigration processes, and advocating for the wellbeing of the whole community. We believe that culture inspires and heals the soul, opening doors for community wealth, leadership, activism and engagement to flourish.

Press about this community assessment

Community survey reports mental health crisis: ALAS-led group makes recommendations
Half Moon Bay Review, August 14, 2023

Addressing needs of Latino community in San Mateo County: Housing, substance use and mental health services top priorities
San Mateo Daily Journal, August 14, 2023

Latinos, among those who suffer the most from mental health problems, according to a survey in San Mateo County // Latinos, entre los que más padecen problemas de salud mental, según encuesta en el condado de San Mateo
An interview with Jorge Sanchez, Farmworker Community Case Manager at ALAS
Univision, October 24, 2023

Community Assessment Data presented to Half Moon Bay City Council in Public Comment on Rent Control
Coastside Buzz, November 15, 2023