implications of iowa’s new demographics for communities
TRANSCRIPT
Implications of Iowa’s New Demographics for Communities
Dr. Mark GreyProfessor and DirectorIowa Center on Immigrant Leadership and
Integration
Dr. Michele DevlinProfessor and DirectorIowa Center on Health Disparities University of Northern Iowa
Rapid Ethnic Diversification vs. “Diversity”
Microplurality
Diversity is usually based on a snapshot, or point-in-time perspective
Our town is “diverse” because we have 10 Latino families
We are experiencing “diversity” because we now have residents with different ethnicities
“Valuing diversity” is often a dodge to avoid talking about difficult issues like class and politics
Time to get past promoting one group’s diversity as more legitimate than another’s
In the US, the term “minority” is going to apply to everyone
We encourage health care providers (and the people who train them) to ask:
Is our service population experiencing “diversity” or diversification?
Diversification is a process that places diverse communities within the context of history, the economy, community goals, and labor markets
Microplurality describes growth in the number of smaller ethnically and linguistically distinct groups in communities
Recognizes “Diversity within Diversity” Minimizes the relevance of racial
categories in favor of ethnic populations Recognizes the central role of culture,
language, religion and immigration status
An aging white population Out-migration of young white population Urbanization Low birth rates among White residents Higher birth rates among newcomers In-migration of young Latinos In-migration of several diverse
populations
The median age for Hispanics was 23.2 years in 2009
-Much less than that of Whites
(39 years in 2009)
Iowa’s projected Latino population:
2020: 182,190
2030: 263,860
2040: 384,320 (11% of total)
*All population projections are from Woods and Poole Economics, 2010
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
2000 2010 2020 2030
Year
Th
ou
san
ds
Marshall County
Crawford County
Buena Vista
Dallas
Black Hawk
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2000 2010 2015
Year
Pe
rce
nt
of
To
tal
Po
pu
lati
on
Buena Vista (Storm Lake)
Crawford (Dennison)
Marshall (Marshalltown)
Louisa (Columbus Junction)
Woodbury (Sioux City)
Muscatine (Muscatine)
Franklin (Hampton)
Wapello (Ottumwa)
Wright (Clarion)
Polk (Des Moines)
Iowa
1. Marshall (45%)2. Crawford (43%)3. Louisa (41%)4. Buena Vista (39%)5. Woodbury (36%)6. Muscatine (34%)7. Allamakee (26%)8. Franklin (22%)9. Polk (22%) 10. Wapello (21%)
11. Wright (17%)12. Sioux (15%)13. Emmet (12%)14. Clarke (12%)15. Pottawattamie (12%)16. Tama (11%)17. Washington (11%)18. Taylor (10%)19. Hancock (10%)20. Osceola (10%)
Iowa’s projected Black population:
2020: 107,790
2030: 136,110
2040: 172,770
Iowa’s projected Asian population:
2020: 71,680
2030: 92,350
2040: 115,150
Year of Highest Population
1900 or earlier
Year of Highest Population
1950 or earlier
Other newcomers have arrived in Iowa:
Southeast Asia (Hmong, Vietnamese, Burmese etc.)
East Asia (Chinese, etc.) Former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, etc.) Former Yugoslavia (Bosnia, etc.) Ultra-Orthodox Jewish (Israel and East Coast) African (Sudan, Somalia, etc.) South Pacific (Marshall Islanders, Paulau) Ukrainian Pentacostals Central and South Americans Inner City African Americans Appalachian Whites And many more equals MICROPLURALITY!
Implications for Communities
More likely to have many smaller ethnic groups in town, rather than just a few larger ones
Greater need for diversity and cultural competency training among staff at all levels, from receptionists to directors
Greater variety of languages spoken in town More budgets for interpreters May need to rely on language line, tele-
interpretation, etc.
More likely to see rare languages, like Dinka, Nuer, etc.
Need training for interpreters and the staff that use them
Increasingly likely to see low-income clients, presenting with multiple challenges and complicated issues
Greater percentage of clients with legal rights to services, along with their families
Increase in different perceptions, traditions, and norms regarding services and providers (public safety, health, social services, etc.)
Greater need to include ethnically diverse clients in assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and boards
Greater emphasis on recruitment and retention of staff from multiple ethnicities, but recognize diversity within diversity
May need variety in service hours during non-traditional times
Must be aware of different cultural taboos, traditional prohibitions, common rituals, unique holidays, etc. of clients
Greater need to provide outreach services where clients live, work, play, recreate, worship, and study
More likely to encounter cross-cultural differences involving ethical practices, confidentiality, legal complaints, etc.
More likely to experience low-literacy barriers
Likely will need longer visits for language/cultural barriers
Greater need to build relationships with clients through face-to-face, human contact
Must collect and track information on client’s ethnicity,
ethnicity, spoken and written languages, literacy level, etc.
Will need to maintain and update current demographic, cultural, and epidemiological profiles of the community
Will require agencies to work together from multiple sectors in coordinated manner to serve clients (health, education, law enforcement, social services, religious groups, schools, housing authorities, interpreters, ethnic community; etc)
Will need to provide orientation training and cultural competency programming for newcomers about Iowans
Should involve employers of newcomers as well
Conclusion
There is none! Learning to work effectively within rapidly changing demographic environments and meeting the needs of newcomers is an ongoing process
Requires time, money, resources, leadership, patience, and involvement of many parties
Ultimately can bring many opportunities and advantages to Iowan communities
Thank You!
Cultural Connections107 HPC
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA 50614
www.iowahealthdisparities.orgDr. Mark Grey; 319 273-6496
Dr. Michele Devlin; 319 [email protected]