Weaving a network of Latino support

While the exploding Hispanic populace brings with it elements of a new culture, it also brings a unique set of social issues. These are issues Natalie Sandoval says we all need to deal with.

Sandoval is a case worker with the Community Caring Council in Cape Girardeau. Through the council, this native-born American of Hispanic descent is working to identify and address these problems. She is doing so by forming the city's first Council on Hispanic Affairs.

"There are gaps in many services to many Hispanics," Sandoval said. "We are pooling together those people in the community that are interested and discussing and looking into these issues."

Among those issues, she said, are a lack of benefits for Hispanic workers, health care, child care, lack of education for both adults and children and government documentation status.

"They just want to work and have a better life," Sandoval said. She hopes that this council of concerned individuals and social service agencies can help them realize these desires. The council's first order of business will be to organize a survey among Hispanics to find out and prioritize their needs.

An increase of Hispanics in need also means an increased need for adaptation in the services offered by city governments and social service organizations.

Dr. Robert Polack, a professor in the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Social Work, said he is already seeing a growing need for bilingual social workers to work in this area and especially the southern part of the Bootheel.

Adelaide Parsons at Southeast's Department of International Programs said the expanding Hispanic presence across the country is already putting pressure on universities and colleges to produce Spanish-speaking, bilingual students in many fields, including medicine, business and education.

As for local government, neither Cape Girardeau nor Jackson offer bills, publications or applications in Spanish. But Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson said the emerging Hispanic population and the language barrier they bring present a situation that is beginning to warrant the city's attention.

The mayor also said that documentation of nonregistered Hispanics in Cape Girardeau is a growing issue in the business community.

"Our Hispanic population is obviously growing," Knudtson said. "It's creating situations that we should be addressing."