The Diverse Faces of Latinos in the Midwest: Planning for Service Delivery and Building Community

Throughout the Midwest and the southern United States, new groups of Hispanic/Latino and other immigrants are settling in large numbers. In many regions, very little infrastructure exists in social service, health care, and educational entities that would allow professionals to deliver much-needed services. Little data exist on the sociodemographics of new immigrant communities in the South and the Midwest. Sociodemographic information provides social work professionals and community planners with valuable clues about the health and social services that may be necessary to promote a viable, livable community. In this article, the authors report on a survey of 535 Hispanic adults conducted in a midwestern city, surrounded by urban, suburban, and rural areas in three adjacent states. This information can be used to design programs and services to benefit new immigrants and to assist communities in predicting future needs.