In Minnesota, one in three long-term care workers is a New American, making this group a critical part of the LTC workforce. Yet many still face hurdles that extend far beyond their job descriptions.

• Language access gaps and confusion around long-term-care-specific terminology can make communication stressful
• Unfamiliar workplace culture can lead to isolation
• Systemic barriers can under-place New Americans in roles below their skill level despite their immense contributions, talents, and experience.

In the spirit of LeadingAge Minnesota’s mission to transform and enhance the experience of aging, our Foundation stepped in to help bridge a crucial gap to support workers and employers through a series of targeted, culturally informed initiatives. This work is being made possible by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Grant, Equity, Access, and Research (GEAR) Division.

This year, our foundation provided:

• Expanded language access and translanguaging supports:
  • Ongoing distribution of 143 Pocketalk translation devices to long-term care providers at no cost. These HIPAA-compliant devices provide on-demand interpretation and translation in more than 90 languages, making them a highly effective tool for both employees and employers navigating multilingual healthcare environments.
  • A clearer understanding of clinical and workplace terminology through the active development of a Multilingual Audio Glossary of more than 150 essential long-term care terms available in English and multiple high-need languages.
  • Translation of the OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training supplemental materials into Hmong, Somali, and Spanish, supporting more equitable learning for the hundreds of New Americans enrolled in CNA training programs each year.
• Culturally informed recruitment and retention tools:
  • A multilingual documentary-style video series featuring New Americans in long-term care, currently being produced in eight languages—English, French, Hmong, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian—to support recruitment, onboarding, and retention.
  • Guidance for employers through a comprehensive Employer Guide focused on culturally informed prerecruitment, recruitment, inclusive onboarding, retention, and pathways to leadership—soon to be paired with an early-2026 Collaborative Learning Series to support real-time adoption.
• Improved access to culturally relevant community supports:
  • An interactive digital map showcasing more than 200 culturally specific resources across Minnesota in one centralized place. The New American Map of Resources has already recorded hundreds of user sessions from workers, employers, and community navigators seeking transportation, childcare, legal aid, and language support, and has drawn 555 views and 300 active users.

This work, and the development of these solutions, was grounded in community-centered collaboration and elevated the voices of the communities for whom these resources and solutions were created. In addition to launching our advisory councils, we partnered with more than 20 community-based organizations, culturally specific leaders, and professionals who serve Minnesota’s New American communities every day. We met with families in living rooms, gathered in community centers, talked with workers in break rooms, and learned directly from employers who champion New Americans in their facilities. These relationships shaped every tool we built and every solution we advanced.

Together, these tools are already being used across the state, fostering not only more accessible solutions to longstanding challenges, but also resources that are deeply responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of the communities they are designed to serve.

To view photos related to this story, check out our 2025 photo reel here.