Do you feed the family, or pay the rent or medical bill? That’s
reality for many Latino immigrant families in Iowa. Data from
the multi-state Rural Families Speak project show the tough
choices these families face as they figure out how to stretch
their limited incomes to cover food, housing and health care
costs. Why study immigrant families? The growth in Iowa’s Latino
population is helping to prevent population loss in the state’s
rural communities, said Kimberly Greder, an associate professor
of Human Development and Family Studies and family life
extension state specialist at Iowa State University. Immigrant
families purchase goods in communities, earn income and add to
the tax base. This particular study examined in depth the lives
of Latino immigrant families in Iowa and in Oregon, Greder said.
The 48 participants were predominantly Mexican mothers who had
immigrated to the United States within the last 15 years, had
children 12 years of age or younger and had poverty-level
incomes. Mothers were asked