Reviews the literature pertinent to 9 immigrant and refugee groups recently arrived in Colorado as a basis for culturally competent evaluation of services and programs aimed at these new arrivals. Roughly 30 million people living in the United States today are foreign-born immigrants or refugees. Colorado has seen a dramatic increase in newcomers from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Central America, Kurdistan, Laos, Mexico, Somalia, Sudan, the former Soviet Union, and Vietnam, all of whom face multiple challenges, including high poverty rates, low levels of educational attainment, limited English proficiency, lack of affordable housing and transportation options, and minimal health care coverage. In addition, many of these new arrivals have experienced the traumas of war and displacement and exhibit symptoms of psychological stress. Immigration itself is a stressor and may contribute to adjustment problems, economic strain, and family dysfunction. Therefore, awareness of the unique history, values, and experiences of this diverse population is fundamental to a culturally competent evaluation of the programs and services designed to meet the needs of new arrivals. Every aspect of the evaluation approach and methodology must reflect acceptance of and respect for cultural differences and continual expansion of cultural knowledge.
