Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Abstract

The concept of Racial and ethnic diversity in the society has become a big issue that has a great impact in different diverse groups whether in domestic or international practices when it comes to public programs, relations and services. The impact of this diversity has been viewed basing on both primary and secondary population sector categories (Rice, 2015). These differences give different results on individual identities not forgetting as a group be it cultural distinctions leading to differences in power, a commitment to known ethically norms and also how the diversity needs to be respected and related to
societal actions. More importantly is the way racial and ethnic diversity has evolved more in terms of roles in workplaces, expectations, personal actions and behaviors. Attempts to come up with proper policies that can control racial and ethnic diversity towards better public program and services has been a complex process that has been faced with support from a number of groups but also hindrances from a particular group who term it as a way of making particular ethnic and races lazy (Weil et al, 1994). Racial and ethnic diversity is a very important issue that needs to be addressed regarding the current moves globally to transform the society into a positively diverse world especially in public programs where minorities tend to have less chances of receiving particular rights in the societies.





Introduction
Diversity can be described as representation of certain category of individuals basing on known differences that are hard to be altered for instance ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, age, gender and also physical qualities or abilities. These differences can also be viewed in terms of language, class, marital status, income or geographical areas.
Racial and ethnic diversity includes a significant representation of different races and ethnicity or other words those groups that have been always viewed as minority or in other words the protected classes to be recognized when it comes to public programs and services allocation. This diversity involves coming up with a nonhomogeneous population that is comprised of a mixture of different classes, races, ethnicity, and gender just to mention a few in order to have a group or population that has a universal appeal in this current times of globalization. This array of different cultures that can be found amongst individuals from different diverse ethnicity and backgrounds leads to an organized behavior that fosters a nature of interactions in public programs and also in a community as a whole (Rice, 2015). The influence of diversity can be positive by facilitating different people in the organization to have a relationship built on trust despite differences in background and origin.
Influence of racial and ethnic diversity in development of public programs and services
A typical population or society should have a range of people that belong to different races, cultures, ethnicity and also personal differences. Any development in areas such as business, education, schools, governance, and state policies and so on must take into consideration an interest in fostering a racial and ethnic diverse culture in order to have that mutual respect from different cultures. These behaviors in public programs and service delivery can be highly influenced by that degree through which people interact within a particular organization.
Influence on public businesses
Public businesses are areas that involves creating of a good relationship with customers that maybe of different ethnic and racial background. Businesses such as public libraries that are meant to serve the entire population have come up with a diverse workforce composition with the motive of boosting the performance of individuals and eventually fully satisfaction of the diverse multicultural societies. All this has been brought up by an increasing number of racial and ethnic diversity in almost every areas and societies. The positive impact of diversity has not only enabled public organizations in increasing scope of its reach but has also improved favorable exposure in all sectors of population thanks to multicultural approach (Weil et al, 1994).
Racial and ethnic diversity has resulted to positive influence in organizational behavior in public program performance by enabling personnel to come out and reach their full potential. This has impacted to creation of a good image of different organizations where public program premises portraying ethnic and racial diversity aspect in their mission statement.
Influence on healthcare services As nursing continues to advance health care in the 21st century, the current shift in demographics, coupled with the ongoing disparities in health care and health outcomes, will warrant our ongoing attention and action. As within all health professions, concerted efforts are needed to diversify the nation's health-care workforce. The nursing profession in particular will be challenged to recruit and retain a culturally diverse workforce that mirrors the nation's change in demographics. This increased need to enhance diversity in nursing is not new to the profession; however, the need to successfully address this issue has never been greater. This article discusses increasing the diversity in nursing and its importance in reducing health disparities. We highlight characteristics of successful recruitment and retention efforts targeting racial/ethnic minority nurses and conclude with recommendations to strengthen the development and evaluation of their contributions to eliminating health disparities.

Public healthcare program and services is another area that has been greatly been influenced by development of ethnic and racial diversity. There have been efforts to diversify the health-care workforce capability although it has been a challenge in recruiting and retaining culturally diverse team of workforce which always mirrors in changing a nation’s demographic. Increased diversity in healthcare and nursing is very important development in reduction of health disparities. We all know that healthcare disparities occur due to inequalities resulting from provision of health services or in other words access to medical services across racial, ethnic and other socioeconomic groups (Simon, 2013).
With such kind of problem in healthcare and nursing, ethnic and racial diversity has led to development of this problem where there have been policies set up by nursing organizations. These policies have promoted the need of implementing and also evaluating the purpose of initiatives which focus mainly in retaining and recruiting minority or underrepresented groups in healthcare field, something that has already began and showed positive impact in curbing healthcare disparities all over the globe.
One evidence indicating development of diversity in healthcare is the fact that there is growing number of nurses from ethnic and racial groups who are scientists who have lately been involved in research to eliminate health disparities. Involving such dedicated group in healthcare programs has brought change in terms of promoting equal health facilities to all population and in the long run eliminating disparities in healthcare programs and services. This has been a success through mechanisms which offer support on research funding not forgetting career development.
Racial and ethnic diversity on development of education programs and services.
Education has improved currently as a result of racial and ethnic diversity all over. Education program is viewed as a vital tool everywhere because it is a determinant in central concerns for instance social equality and economic, stability in the society and proper functioning of state democracy (Rice, 2015). Research shows that diversity in terms of ethnic and races has given way to innovations in learning centers due to sharing of ideas from students from different cultures coming together. Education system that supports cultural diversity also brings up young students who develop skills to understand perspectives of other children that are from different backgrounds hence learning to function in multiethnic and multicultural environment. This has brought development in making it easy for students to be able to cope up with each other and also get along well (Simon, 2013). Teachers have also been able to deal with the issue of training the students without favoring a particular group.
Conclusion
Racial and ethnic diversity has generally given rise to very many developments in public programs and services all over and this has been shown by the way all the societies have embraced it. Although it has been faced with little challenges, there is still policies being put in place to spread cultural diversity in not only public programs and services but also every community as a an acceptance to the new way of living and correlation. What is more important is that it has been a positive influence in the development of societies by contributing to well-being of people from different cultures coming together and getting along well.




References

         Mitchell F. Rice, (2015). Diversity and Public Administration: Theory, Issues and Perspectives. Rutledge. Pp. 134-140.

        Patrick Simon, (2013). Accounting for Ethnic and Racial Diversity: The challenge of Enumeration. Rutledge. Pp. 87.

        Marie Weil et al, (1994). Diversity and Development in Community Practice. Psychology Press. Pp. 12.