Minority populations, including Latino families, faced economic challenges, including housing instability and increased food insecurity, negatively affecting students’ school engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these conditions, and new challenges emerged including job loss, struggles to find childcare, decreased access to resources, social isolation, and decreased overall mental health. Among children and youths, mental health concerns and school disengagement have been worsened during the pandemic. Moreover, children and youths are experiencing caring for other family members, exposure to interpersonal violence, lack of parental supervision and support, grief and loss, and increased risk of suicide.
The National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center will host a 3-part webinar series, Back to School … Promoting Resiliency and Mental Health Wellness in Latino Children: Strategies for Mental Health Providers, Teachers, and Parents. This webinar will examine the impact of COVID-19 on Latino students’ mental health, discuss strategies to boost resiliency and improve mental health wellness, and create a plan to deal with unprecedented future situations like the pandemic.