Cross Cultural Communications

Welcome to a new America! Today we are witnessing the largest wave of immigration in the history of the United States. More than 13 percent of the nation's population is foreign born, and one birth in four is to a foreign-born mother. These new arrivals offer us riches of cultural diversity. They come from around the world and speak 380 languages.

In addition, a third of the nation is now minority. The largest minority population in the U.S. today is composed of Hispanic/Latino residents. By 2050, over half of U.S. residents will identify as a racial and/or ethnic minority.

We are coming to understand now how language and cultural differences affect communication. Today, many agencies in health care, education and human services see non-English speaking immigrants and refugees. They also see ethnic and cultural minorities such as the deaf/hard of hearing and others with disabilities, American Indians, gay/lesbian /bisexual/transgender clients, religious minorities (such as Amish, Mennonites, Muslims and Jews), and many other groups.

Providers want to provide equal access to their quality services to all eligible clients, yet many culturally diverse clients may lack education and resources. A number come from countries shattered by war, disease, natural disasters, poverty or genocide. Providers ask us: “What can we do to help?”

As your organization moves toward cultural competence, Cross-Cultural Communications can assist you. For example, you can:

·         Develop clear policies and procedures for serving culturally diverse populations.

·         Find qualified interpreters.

·         Respect federal and state laws on language access and cultural competence.

·         Support national standards for cultural competence.

·         Train staff.

·         Recruit and train bilingual staff to interpret.

There are many other ways to overcome language and cultural barriers. For solutions, click here. For valuable resources and links, click here.

We hope you enjoy this website. If you have any suggestions, please call the Director, Marjory Bancroft, at 410-750-0365. To send an email, click here. We are happy to answer your questions.

Ellicott City, Maryland
410-750-0365