• Hispanic or Latino Populations
• The Hispanic American Community
• Latino/Hispanic Culture and Health
• Communicating with Your Latino Patient
  

* For additional Multicultural Health Generalizations, please visit: http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/bmhg.htm

For Black History Month in February of 2005, the University of Michigan School of Nursing wanted to engage faculty, staff, and students in a collective cultural project that would conclude with a tangible product - the creation of a Diversity Quilt. Diverse faculty, staff, and students came together to 1) learn about the history of quilting in the African American community, 2) learn how to independently produce a quilting square, and 3) present the finished quilt to the dean of the School of Nursing.

Overall, fifteen faculty, staff, and students of the UM School of Nursing participated in the Diversity Quilt project. These participants chose a quilt design representing an adaption of a West African Adinkra symbol, meaning patience, self-control, self-discipline, acceptance of realism, and tolerance. The design also incorporated a log-cabin block pattern, needing to be constructed by hand by the project participants.

Ultimately, the Diversity Quilt project met several outcomes: 1) to provide a cultural history of the African American community through quilting, 2) to engage diverse faculty, staff, and students from different cultures to work independently towards a collective goal, and 3) to create a visually artistic and creative artifact commemorating and celebrating our diversity and our communal functioning.

The Diversity Quilt is a testament to the possibilities of a community committed to celebrating diversity. It currently hangs in an enclosed glass showcase near the main entrance of the UM School of Nursing and serves as a visual statement of the School's commitment to creating a culturally competent and diverse community. Through unique activities such as these, the UM School of Nursing has become better equipped to meet the health care needs of diverse communities.

The Diversity Quilt is dedicated to Ada Sue Hinshaw and was presented at the National Nursing Leadership Conference on May 11, 2006. The quilt remains hanging in the Univeristy of Michigan School of Nursing.

Efforts, Programs in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey Address Minority Health Disparities
August 24, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=47101

From Policy to Action: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities at the Ground Level
August 24, 2007
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/resources/product.jsp?id=20413&pid=1142&c=EMC-CA142

2007 Minority Women's Health Summit, Women of Color: Addressing Disparities, Affirming Resilience, and Developing Strategies for Success
August 23, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2278

Massachusetts Program Offers Cash Rewards to Hospitals That Reduce Health Disparities Among Minority Patients
August 20, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46993

Tutorial Examines Racial, Ethnic Health Care Disparities
August 20, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46994

Las Vegas Sun Examines Progress of Nevada's New Office of Minority Health
August 17, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46947

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Field Hearing Discusses Lack of Funding for American Indian Health Care
August 16, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46937

Colorado: Address Universal Coverage, Costs, and Health Disparities
August 16, 2007
The Commonwealth Fund
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=515820&#colorado

Studies Indicate Minorities Use Fewer Preventive Care Services Than Whites
August 15, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46909

Rate of Undiagnosed Diabetes Cases Among Hispanic, Black Men Declining, Study Finds
August 14, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46876

Alabama Hospital Enhances Language Services to Improve Care Delivery for Hispanic Patients
August 13, 2007
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?c=EMC-ND142&pid=1142&id=6163

Studies Examine Cause Behind Infant Mortality Gap, Link Between Perceived Racism, Health
August 10, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46821

Massachusetts in Need of Agency to Track Racial Health Data To Reduce Disparities in Care, Report States
August 9, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46790

Researchers Emphasize Importance of Language Services at U.S. Pharmacies to Enhance Care Quality for LEP Patients
August 7, 2007
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?c=EMC-ND142&pid=1142&id=6121

North Carolina Program Sends Medical Students to American Indian Families To Teach Health Awareness
August 6, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46687

House, Senate Approve SCHIP Reauthorization Bills; Both Include Minority Health-Related Provisions
August 3, 2007
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46669