Assessing the psychosocial and academic needs of Latino youth to inform the development of school-based programs.

A survey was made of the leaders in the Latino community from four East coast cities on the mental health, academic, and behavioral needs of Latino youth, services available to them, and recommendations to better address their needs. Of the 112 Latino leaders recruited, 46 responded to the survey, expressing their views that Latino youth experience significant stress in the United States, present behavioral and academic adjustment problems, and generally have difficulty accessing appropriate services and resources. Programs for these youth were presented as limited in number and lacking in cultural sensitivity. Community leaders endorsed the development of comprehensive and culturally sensitive programs for Latino youth in schools that address their psychosocial and academic needs.