During the recent immigration debate in Congress, NHCSL president Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (NY) issued the following position statement:

“While the proposed bill in the Senate is a positive first step with many agreeable provisions, there is still much work to be done to ensure that immigrants and their families are treated humanely and fairly. I am particularly concerned about how the bill treats family reunification. Whatever solutions we reach to address concerns about immigration, we must be careful not to disenfranchise families. Sacrificing your loved ones for citizenship, which this bill would demand, is too high of a price to pay for citizenship.”

A press release issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that girls, ages 12-17 begin adolescent treatment at a younger age than boys. The findings are from a recent SAMHSA report. The report: Adolescent Treatment Admissions by Gender: 2005 “shows about 142,600 admissions of adolescents ages 12-17 to substance abuse treatment in 2005. About 44,600 admissions (31 percent) were for girls, and 98,000 (69 percent) were for boys.”

Adolescent Treatment Admissions by Gender: 2005 is available at http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/youthTX/youthTX.cfm or by calling at 1-877-SAMHSA-7
(1-877-726-4727).

One year later an evaluation report sheds light on the Massachusetts Health Reform Law and its impact on the state. The 2006 Massachusetts Health Reform Law: Progress and Challenges After One Year of Implementation was released at a Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Summit. Get a copy at: http://masshealthpolicyforum.brandeis.edu/
publications/pdfs/31May07/MassHealthCare
ReformProgess%20Report.pdf

This CDC report released in March provides suggestions and highlights key areas necessary for improving the quality of life for older adults. A state-by state report card on healthy aging ranks all 50 states for each health indicator. For a copy of the report visit: http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/saha_2007.pdf

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America.