California is the most diverse of all mainland states, and the variety continues to expand. Since 1993, there has been no racial majority among California's children, and it's not uncommon for 23 different languages to be spoken in one school, or for a school district to encompass more than 100 languages. Concepts of wellness, disease and healing differ widely across California's many ethnic groups and cultures. Because of this great diversity, it's essential that care providers possess the cultural skills to understand the neighborhoods and communities in which they are working. Without these skills, it is impossible to provide health services in the best manner or to put data in context for long-range planning. In response to this obvious need, the Foundation has encouraged front-line providers to examine diversity, and is funding grants to culturally diverse technical assistance groups who have cross-cultural skills and awareness. Such heightened awareness of and respect for differences increases project effectiveness. The mostly Mexican agricultural workers in Orange County receive preventive health care with the help of outreach workers from a farming background who understand their cultural attitudes about healing. For example, when an individual needs treatment, it is most effective if the entire family participates in a medical consultation and not just the sick person. The Asian Health Services language program in Alameda County is developing health education brochures on eight ailments in four different Asian languages, with details that take into account the traditional behavior and health practices of each specific culture. In Long Beach, children from 100 immigrant Cambodian families had better school attendance and were involved in fewer high-risk behaviors after workers helped improve family communication through home parenting programs. In the nearby Children's Clinic of Long Beach, a multicultural and multilingual staff able to communicate with Asian and other immigrant families contributed to a reduction in ear infections among schoolchildren. Joining two other funders -- the Annie Casey Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation -- the Foundation is funding California Tomorrow to examine the interconnection between diversity and the provision of technical assistance. California Tomorrow will hold forums for community leaders, collect and analyze the use of demographic data and create working papers as a resource for further discussion.