"If current trends continue, the population of the United States will rise to 438 million in 2050, from 296 million in 2005, and 82% of the increase will be due to immigrants arriving from 2005 to 2050 and their U.S.-born descendants, according to new projections developed by the Pew Research Center."

So begins the executive summary of the now available February 11th Pew Research report, U.S. Population Projections: 2005-2050.

Among the other key population projections:

• Nearly one in five Americans (19%) will be an immigrant in 2050, compared with one in eight (12%) in 2005. By 2025, the immigrant, or foreign born, share of the population will surpass the peak during the last great wave of immigration a century ago.


• The Latino population, already the nation's largest minority group, will triple in size and will account for most of the nation's population growth from 2005 through 2050. Hispanics will make up 29% of the U.S. population in 2050, compared with 14% in 2005.


• The non Hispanic white population will increase more slowly than other racial and ethnic groups; whites will become a minority (47%) by 2050.

The Center's projections are based on detailed assumptions about births, deaths and immigration levels--the three key components of population change. All these assumptions are built on recent trends.

Other Resources To Explore

• U.S. Census Bureau. "Population Projections".


• U.S. Census Bureau. "Methodology and Assumptions for the Population Projections of the United States," January 2000.


• U.S. Census Bureau. "Interim Projections of the U.S. Population by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: Summary Methodology and Assumptions," March 2004.


• U.S. Social Security Administration. "2007 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds," May 1, 2007.


• United Nations Population Division. "World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision," March 13, 2007.

If your organization could use help in planning for these population, language and cultural changes to come, contact Language Line Services at 1-877-886-3885 for:

• Telephone interpretation,
• Document translation,
• Bilingual employee testing and training or our
• Other products and solutions

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has created an online guide for hospitals regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, "which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin," and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of financial assistance from HHS.

Under these laws, hospitals must communicate effectively with patients, family members, and visitors who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and must take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs for persons who have limited English proficiency.

Complementing these obligations are the new accreditation provisions promulgated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, including the recently adopted requirement that hospitals collect information about the language and communications needs of patients."

This online guide will assist hospitals in meeting these responsibilities and to help ensure access to quality health care.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hospitalcommunication.html

Honoring a tradition dating back to 1943, President Bush has issued a proclamation recognizing March as Red Cross Month and lauding the "remarkable achievements and contributions" of the American Red Cross.

Read the complete press release here.

About the Red Cross

Mission Statement - The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

• Humanity - The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among all peoples.
• Impartiality - It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
• Neutrality - In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
• Independence - The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.
• Voluntary Service - It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
• Unity - There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
• Universality - The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

Not surprisingly, Wikipedia has a very complete page, bibliography and set of images of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

And finally, Language Line Services is proud to be the official telephone language interpreting service for the American Red Cross.

Free Interpreter Phone Service Now Available To New York City Residents, Tourists

Your World. Your Language. Connects Limited English Speakers with Vital Business Services

Monterey, CA - (February 21, 2008). With 36 percent of its population foreign born and a relentless stream of international travelers, New York City's millions of limited English speakers will now find it easier than ever to communicate with consumer and business services thanks to Your World. Your Language.which launches in New York this week.

This first-of-its-kind, toll-free, phone-based interpreter service is now available to limited English speaking residents, and foreign business travelers and tourists throughout New York.

The service is simultaneously being launched in other major metro areas including Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Washington DC to support the millions of immigrant families throughout the region.

Your World. Your Language. can be accessed by calling 1-888-855-0811, and will be available nationwide by the end of 2008.

Read more >>

Also read "Free Interpreter Phone Service Now Available in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC" here

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