Project ALTO and the Pacoima Diabetes Collaborative: A culturally sensitive collaborative approach in addressing obesity and diabetes in the Latino population

In 2005 Project ALTO-(PA) a project of Mission Community Hospital was funded to educate and screen low-income, uninsured Latinos at high risk for diabetes, referring those with no other access to care to MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity), a local free-clinic. Also in 2005 Valley Care-Community-Consortium's (a 501-c-3 non-profit) Chronic Disease Committee was working on a grant proposal to address the growing epidemic of diabetes and obesity in the Latino population. Throughout 2005, the newly formed VCCC Pacoima Diabetes Collaborative and PA worked to create a program that would enhance PA. In 2006 The California Endowment funded the collaborative culturally sensitive project, which includes community health forums, walking groups, education sessions, group model clinics, web-based resource directory and needs assessment.

PA is staffed with bilingual community health-workers that provide glucose screenings at local community events. The PDC is staffed with a bilingual community-coordinator that conducts free walking groups and physical activity sessions at local school parent centers, churches, and parks within walking distance of residents' homes. A bilingual physician works with PDC to establish a group model approach to increasing access to care in local clinics that provides greater health literacy; allowing for more time with a physician and various health professionals to address the cultural issues facing Latinos residing in Southern-California.

Key to the structural changes in the community has been the role that appropriately delivered; culturally-sensitive disease management education has played in giving community members the information needed in order to interact with one's health care providers.