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Over the last ten years in New Jersey, the growth
of ethnic and cultural groups has increased dramatically.
Based on Census 2000 data, 19% of the State of New
Jersey can be considered New Americans
- a 58% increase since 1990. If this trend continues,
by the year 2010 almost one in four people in New
Jersey will be a New American. As identified in the
table below, by 2010 almost one in two people are
projected to be a New American in Central New Jersey.
| New
Americans - Percent of Total Population |
| |
1990 |
2000 |
Estimated
2010 |
| Middlesex County |
15.6% |
28.3% |
52.9% |
| Somerset County |
8.6% |
17.4% |
31.9% |
| Mercer County |
9.1% |
14.9% |
26.5% |
| Central New Jersey |
12.5% |
23% |
42.2% |
Between 1990 and 2000, the New Americans population increased:
- 97% in Middlesex County from 104,542 to 206,152
- 145% in Somerset County from 20,708 to 50,715
- 74% in Mercer County from 29,527 to 51,238
- 99% in Central New Jersey from 154,777 to 308,142
In addition
to population studies, much research was done regarding
New Americans and their utilization
of social services. Rutgers Eagleton Institute of
Politics - Center for Public Interest Polling conducted
the Compass Needs Assessment for the United
Way of Central Jersey and Middlesex County. The main
objective of this study (concluding May 2002) was
to provide information on the social service and related
needs of residents in the United Way of Central Jersey
service area - Middlesex County and Franklin Township.
The study uncovered that the three main barriers to
obtaining social services are “primarily a lack
of information, a lack of trust, and program eligibility
restrictions.”
The
Assessment of Needs and Barriers to Accessing Social
Services in Immigrant Communities conducted by
the International Institute of New Jersey in August
of 2003, further emphasizes the trends of New
Americans as related to social service
agencies. The report states, “Close to two-thirds
(63%) of all respondents claimed that they ‘don’t
know what’s available’, half (50%) mentioned
language difficulties and over a third (36%) reported
transportation issues.”
Regardless of which
segment of the New Americans community was
studied, a “lack of knowledge” was the
overwhelming barrier to accessing services. This “lack
of knowledge” is magnified when New
Americans find an agency but the agency
is unprepared to deal with cultural and language barriers.
Although
the human service needs of New Americans
are in many ways similar to the needs of the American
population, cultural variations within the New
Americans population create additional challenges.
We believe that the trend in the population shift
will continue in the future for Central New Jersey.
We further believe that aggressively reaching out
to meet the needs of New Americans
is not only our objective, but an absolute imperative
for our communities. |
