Cultural Considerations
One important element of Hispanic outreach is making sure that your communications are culturally sensitive.
This important step enables you to build trust with the Hispanic community—and with Hispanics who could benefit greatly from your services.
However, no single monolithic Hispanic culture exists. The term “Hispanic” refers to people from a Spanish-speaking country, each country having its own unique culture. The U.S. government uses this term when discussing demographics. “Latino” is another term sometimes used to describe individuals from Latin American countries, including Mexico and Central and South America. The Hispanic population is further segmented by widely varying levels of acculturation and time spent in the United States.
Because the Hispanic population is diverse, your area may have very different needs from other locations. You can find out more about the Hispanic population in your area by accessing U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
That said, Hispanic immigrants share some common experiences including:
Hispanics who are new to—and established in—the United States also may have similar values, attitudes, and characteristics. You can better connect with this group by being sensitive to these:
Acculturation |
Interpersonal Relationships |
Family |
Music and Food |
Names |
Parenting Style |
Religion |
Time |
Three Important Notes: