mily is viewed as a warm and nurturing institution for most Mexican Americans. It is a stable structure, in which the individual’s place is clearly established and secure. The family, indicates, offers emotional security and sense of belonging to its members, and offers support throughout the individual’s lifetime. The family is a major support system, a unit to which the individual may turn to for help when in stress or in other types of need. Key to the family system is the value of sharing and cooperation.Extended kinship ties assume a prominent place within the Mexican American culture. The extended family may include godparents and/or very close friends. Studies show that Mexican families tend to live near relatives and close friends, have frequent interaction with family members, and exchange a wide range of goods and services that include child care, temporary housing, personal advice, nursing during times of illness, and emotional support.In conclusion, numerous studies (Ramirez 1990 & 1991) demonstrate that family solidarity among Mexicans is not just a stereotypical ideal, but also a real phenomenon. Although expressed differently today because of changing cultural values and socioeconomic pressures, the pattern of strong family orientation continues. It appears that the Mexican Americans continue to have more cohesive family support systems than other groups (Griswold del Castillo, 1994).FERTILITYMexican Americans have the highest fertility rates compared with all other groups. Mexican American fertility is significantly higher for every age group:73% higher than the total population in the 15-24 age group,43% higher than the total population in the 25-34 age group,38% higher in the 35-44 age group.As seen by the table in comparison with blacks and whites in the three age groups, Mexican Americans are 1.5%, 13.3 %, and 14.5 % higher, respectively. Compared with whites, the differences are even more drama...
