Clues to the Future
... September 2011
Serving our neighbors
The United States is rapidly becoming more culturally, ethnically and racially diverse. Organizations that provide a range of supports and services, whether health care, housing, or social services, are increasingly paying attention to the preferences and needs of a wider range of people.
The 2010 U.S. Census highlighted some important trends. While the non-Hispanic white alone population is numerically and proportionally the largest major race and ethnic group in the United States, it is also growing at the slowest rate. More than half of the growth in the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010 was because of the increase in the Hispanic population. During those years, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, rising from 35.3 million to 50.5 million. By 2010, Hispanics comprised 16 percent of the total U.S. population. In terms of racial identification, the black or African-American population totaled 38.9 million and represented 13 percent of the total population. Approximately 5 percent of respondents identified their race as Asian alone. Three percent of the population reported more than one race in the 2010 Census. The Asian alone population grew faster than any other major race group between 2000 and 2010, increasing by 43 percent. In the 2010 Census, just over one-third of the U.S. population reported their race and ethnicity as something other than non-Hispanic white alone, representing a growth of 29 percent over the decade.
The mission statement of Lutheran HealthCare, in Brooklyn, NY, says, “Lutheran HealthCare has no reason for being of its own; it exists only to serve the needs of its neighbors.” It “works in partnership with its neighbors, each relying on the other as friends who care about and assist each other.” This, in its very diverse neighborhood, Lutheran HealthCare takes seriously. Staff diversity reflects the neighborhood where a myriad of languages are spoken. Lutheran speaks 70 languages! From food to gestures to other cultural markers, Lutheran HealthCare reflects its neighbors. Its Community Liaison program matches patients with same-culture coordinators who help patients to navigate their health care journeys. http://www.lutheranmedicalcenter.com/Data/Documents/Lutheran_HealthCare_2011Report.pdf
Similarly, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in the metro-Chicago area has established the position of “cultural concierge” and is hiring four concierges to forge a stronger link between the hospital and the large Korean, Polish, Russian and Hispanic populations in surrounding neighborhoods. These concierges will educate staff, will assist people in navigating the health care system, and will identify a variety of ways (from special foods to cultural practices) to help the hospital be more welcoming, helpful and healthful to a wider variety of people. http://www.latimes.com/health/ct-x-0727-hospital-concierge-20110727,0,2849109.story
We are eager to learn and share more about the diverse ethnic and culturally-specific approaches to supports and services other Lutheran organizations are developing.
Jill Schumann, President and CEO
