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Rationale for a Focus on Diverse Populations America's population is changing dramatically. Preliminary reports from the 2000 Census indicate that the Latino population has grown to surpass the black population, which has long been known as the largest minority group in the United States. Together, these two minority communities alone may comprise more than 25% of the American population when the final census numbers are released. Significant growth among other minority populations has been documented as well. This shifting demographic landscape has important implications for business practices, in general, and for government programs targeting diverse populations in particular. The present and projected changes in America's ethnic composition are challenging the capability of health care delivery systems to meet the needs of consumers in the 21st century. Old methods and approaches no longer fit the new customer base. The industry is experiencing innovation and changes without clear sight of what will lead to culturally competent health services. Health behavior differences among ethnic groups are not well understood in general or in the context of health care delivery organizations more specifically. Little is known about health and illness models embedded in the culture of ethnic minorities, the psychometrics and symbols that are effective for communication, or how to deal with acculturation and interracial melding of heritages. The emerging political strength of minority communities and drivers of change within the health industry are creating demand for health-related policy and practice research to improve understanding about how best to meet the health needs of minority populations. Most research on problems affecting diverse populations has been conducted by non-minority or ethnically insensitive researchers and consultants. Rationale for a Network of Culturally-Sensitive Researchers and Consultants The Partida Group carries a commitment to growing a network of minority and culturally sensitive researchers and consultants. We build long-term business relationships that support independent work by network participants in their areas of expertise and develop opportunities that fit with other personal and professional demands, coupling practice with research for specific projects. With a centralized management unit, we are able to opportunistically leverage expertise and insights of ethnically diverse and ethnically sensitive professionals to accomplish defined scopes work and produce project deliverables.
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