Rob Paral and Associates
The following publications are specific to the Midwest and Illinois. Topics are also cross listed for thorough browsing.
Mexican Immigration in the Midwest: Meanings and Implications
This report, the first of its kind, describes major demographic and
socioeconomic features of Mexican immigration across the eightstate
Midwest region. It uses both recent data and other statistics that
delineate historic transformations to the regional economy over 100
years. The report reveals a wide range of information on Midwestern
Mexican immigrants that has never been published before.
Uninsured Older Adults, Age 50-64, in Illinois State Legislative Districts - December 2008
Often, older adults – especially if they are low income – have very
limited access to public or private health insurance. To raise awareness of this vulnerable, uninsured population in Illinois, Health & Disability Advocates (HDA) and Rob Paral and Associates have developed estimates of uninsured older adults in Illinois by state legislative districts.
Uninsured Persons in Illinois State Legislative Districts -June 2007
These are estimates of persons without health insurance within each state legislative district in Illinois. Prepared for Health and Disability Advocates, United Power, and the Heartland Alliance.
Uninsured and Employed Persons in Illinois State Legislative Districts - June 2007
This report finds that a majority of uninsured persons in Illinois are working.
Uninsured Women in Illinois - May 2007
This is a profile of uninsured women in Illinois prepared with Health and Disability Advocates for the Chicago Foundation for Women.
The compilation of this report was made possible with support from The Illinois Department of Human Services, Refugee and Immigrant Citizenship Initiative.
Economic Contributions of Illinois Immigrants - November 2006
The native labor force in Illinois is actually shrinking in size, and native workers are rapidly aging. The Illinois labor market, meanwhile, is shifting into extremes of high- and low-skill positions. Immigrants are offsetting the shrinkage and aging of the Illinois workforce, even as they have skills that match the changing labor needs of the state.
Marching Toward the American Dream: Illinois Immigrant Citizens Settle in Chicago Suburbs - 2006
A fundamental demographic transformation is occurring in Illinois. Between 2000 and 2005, the Illinois immigrant population grew by 177,000 people, a number greater than the population of Aurora, Illinois's second largest city.
Legal Needs Study of Low-Income Illinois Families - 2005
Conducted by the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois. Rob Paral provided research and analysis services.
Immigrant Legal Needs - Fall 2004
Immigrants are a disproportionate share of the low-income population needing legal assistance, yet they have limited access to the already-small system of subsidized legal aid in Illinois. This study was commissioned by the Legal Needs Survey of the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois.
Arab Ancestry Persons in Illinois - Fall 2004
This report is a profile of persons with Arab and Middle-Eastern ancestry in the state of Illinois. Funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. The report compares various Arab Ancestry groups along lines of social and economic characteristics.
Illinois Welfare Office Profiles - Fall 2004
This publication consists of two pages of data for each local welfare office in Illinois. Statistics include numbers of persons receiving particular welfare programs, and data on local poverty rates
Immigrants and Racial Groups in Illinois Welfare Programs - Fall 2004
Prepared for the Illinois Department of Human Services, this report analyzes the changing participation of immigrants and racial groups in the welfare programs managed by the state of Illinois.
Latino Demographic Change in Metro Chicago - December 2004
Authored by Rob Paral, Timothy Ready, Sung Chen and Wei Sun for the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame University.
A Profile of Southwest Side Neighborhoods in Chicago - May 2004
This report profiles Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, West Elsdon and West Lawn: areas served by the Southwest Organizing Project.
The Polish Community in Metro Chicago - October 2004
Polish Americans are almost one in ten residents of metro Chicago. One third of Polish immigrants to the United States live in the Chicago area. This report discusses the contributions and public policy needs of these populations. The report was prepared for the Polish American Association, the nation's largest Polish social service agency.
Chicago-Area Demographic and Epidemiological Profiles - Spring 2003
Prepared for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. This is a chartbook of data on demographics, poverty, disability and vital statistics for Chicago community areas, selected Chicago-area suburbs and larger cities in downstate Illinois.
Poverty and Disability in Illinois - August 2003
Completed for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, this is a study of how health status and poverty and disability rates vary by race, ethnicity and geography in the metropolitan Chicago region.
Metro Chicago Immigration Fact Book - 2003
A profile of immigrants and immigration in metropolitan Chicago.
Chicago's Immigrants Break Old Patterns - 2003
A September 1, 2003 article appearing in Migration Information Source. The article is based on the principal findings of the Metro Chicago Immigration Fact Book. The fact book provided detailed analysis of the metropolitan Chicago immigrant population. Published by the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs of Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Poster of Immigrant Populations in Metro Chicago - 2003
Chicago-Area Demographic and Epidemiological Profiles - Spring 2003
Created for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, this is a chartbook with demographic, poverty, disability and vital statistics for Chicago community areas and suburban and downstate Illinois places.
Reports on Illinois Poverty
These are a series of reports produced in the 2000-2003 period by the Illinois Poverty Summit project of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights. Rob Paral provided data, data analysis and some writing to these reports.
- 2003 Report on Illinois Poverty
- 2003 Atlas of Illinois Poverty
- 2002 Report on Illinois Poverty
- 2001 Report on Illinois Poverty
- 2000 Report on Illinois Poverty
Survey on Arts Education in Chicago Public Schools - 2003
Rob Paral provided data analysis assistance to this report on the type and nature of arts education in the Chicago Public Schools.
Bordering the Mainstream: A Needs Assessment of Latinos in Berwyn and Cicero, Illinois - 2002
(Final report written principally by Rob Paral)
Prepared for the Notre Dame University Institute for Latino Studies, this report describes the contributions and public policy needs of the fast-growing Latino population in Cicero and Berwyn, Illinois.
Policy Implications of Immigrant Workers and Entrepreneurs in Illinois - 2002
Prepared for the Illinois Immigrant Policy Project.
State of Illinois Spending on Services to the Elderly - 2001
Completed for the Illinois Coalition on Aging, this report compiles and analyzes state government expenditures on services to elderly persons.
A Profile of Immigrants in the Illinois Workforce - 2001
by James Lewis and Rob Paral
Analyzes the role of immigrants in the Illinois workforce, with particular emphasis on European, Asian and Mexican populations.
Citizenship 2000: Illinois Immigrants and Naturalization Needs - 2001
Presents a variety of information related to the continuing demand for citizenship services by immigrants in Illinois.
Suburban Immigrant Communities: Assessments of Key Characteristics and Needs - August 2000
This report was commissioned by the Fund for Immigrants and Refugees, and it provided demographic data and maps as well as findings from focus groups and interviews on the experiences, needs and contributions of immigrant living in the Chicago-area suburbs.
Illinois Families First: The Case for Investing in Illinois Families - 2000
Produced for United Power and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers, this report addresses key needs of Illinois families, children and the elderly, and discusses the need for state investment in human services.
Written for the Illinois Department of Human Services, and published by the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, this report uses state welfare caseload data to show that immigrants have lost access to most major state safety net programs at a faster rate than the native born.
Article discusses welfare use by Illinois immigrants, highlighting trends in TANF, Medicaid and KidCare, and examines factors limiting immigrant access to medical services.
Regional Rental Market Analysis - 1999
This is a detailed analysis of trends and issues related to the rental housing market in Chicago, including demographic issues, vacancy rates, affordability and numerous public policy issues affecting access to affordable rental housing in the Chicago region. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the report was prepared for the Metropolitan Chicago Planning Council by the University of Illinois at Chicago and The Urban Institute. Rob Paral provided management services to the project and contributed some writing and analysis to the final report.