Does your organization serve Hispanic Americans? Perhaps your organization is looking for ways to better reach the Hispanic American community. In either case, providing effective and well-tailored communication is key to reaching Hispanic Americans. One of the greatest hurdles in connecting the Hispanic American community with services, aide, and commerce, is often something as simple as a language barrier or a lack of cultural competence.
First and foremost, it’s important that when delivering any kind of communication or service to the Hispanic American community that materials be made available in multiple languages. While many Hispanic Americans speak both Spanish and English, there are also many who only speak one or the other, not to mention the many whose primary language is Portuguese! Remember, the Hispanic American community is not a monoculture, but composed of many similar but diverse cultures.
Providing materials in each of these languages can be best achieved by hiring bilingual staff, but can also be achieved by contracting with a translation service to review your communications materials!
How can your organization make sure you’re reaching Hispanic Americans?
When it comes to ensuring your connection with Hispanic American communities, the National Hispanic Council on Aging encourages you and your organization to approach nonprofit organizations that have become trusted vehicles for knowledge and resources to these communities over many years. Just like NHCOA, other nonprofit organizations are likely eager to work with you, so that they can help to bring more opportunities to the communities they serve.
Although, you should also be considering your mode of delivery. NHCOA has come to know that Hispanic American communities prefer a medley of traditional and non-traditional forms of media. In fact, a study by the Pew Research Center found that preferences among Hispanic Americans to be fairly wide spread. Without accounting for age, the study found social media (21%) and television (23%) to be the dominant percentages.
When it comes to older adults, traditional modes like television and radio can have discernable impact on your outreach efforts. But don’t discount more modern modes like the internet; while Hispanic American older adults may not be on all the current internet platforms, Facebook has proved a reliable channel to reach them.
Good engagement with Hispanic American communities starts with effective communication. The National Hispanic Council on Aging encourages you and your organization to utilize these tips in your attempts to connect with this significant demographic, which makes up nearly one fifth of the United States population.
Do you want to learn more about Hispanics and Latinos, how to work with this wonderful community, and how to support the community programs that allow them to prosper? Consider reaching out to the National Hispanic Council on Aging Resource Center, by phone call or WhatsApp, at (202) 658 – 8664. The NHCOA Resource Center is a multilingual hub that educates and empowers community members and constituents with accurate information and helpful resources.
This publication is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $210,023 with 67 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $70,240 amount and 33 percentage funded by non-government source (s). The contents are those of the author (s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
References:
Naseer, Sarah, Christopher St. Aubin and Michael Lipka. “How Hispanic Americans Get Their News,” Hispanic/Latino Demographics. Pew Research Center. 03/19/2024. https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/03/19/how-hispanic-americans-get-their-news/
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