5054.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - Board 5

Abstract #24284

Effective recruitment and retention strategies for elementary school-based studies of immigrant urban Latino population

Armando Tafoya1, Gabriela S. Jones2, Charity R. Cason, MS3, and Cynthia Peck1. (1) Educational and Community Initiatives, WestEd, 801 North Parkcenter Drive Suite 110, Santa Ana, CA 92705, (714) 648-0333, atafoya@wested.org, (2) WestEd, 801 North Parkcenter Drive Suite 110, Santa Ana, CA 92705, (3) Educational & Community Initiatives, WestEd, 801 North Parkcenter Drive Suite 110, Santa Ana, CA 92705

The study of under-served populations has presented a challenge to researchers in many fields. In school-based studies the challenges are exacerbated by the focus on children and by the need to address diverse family living situations. Latino families present numerous barriers such as language, immigration status, high transience, and low levels of education. These issues create unique challenges in recruitment and retention of Latino participants in longitudinal studies. These challenges require researchers to utilize effective strategies to maintain their participation. Retention strategies have been classified into three categories: recruitment, retention-programmatic, and retention-organizational. At the recruitment level, language and literacy appropriateness of consent and other program materials are vital, as well as the Spanish fluency of program staff. At the retention-programmatic level, the importance of flexible and customizable services and interventions are fundamental. At the retention-organizational level, the use of assigned primary liaisons, Outreach Worker, greatly contributes to retention and service delivery because participants have an identifiable advocate. The aim of the study will be to focus on the strategies needed for the recruitment and retention of Latino families for a longitudinal study in a highly transient immigrant population.

The participants involved in this study are part of Creciendo Saludable, a large comprehensive school-community based project with multiple components. The program is designed to prevent the development of health and behavioral problems among Latino school-aged youth in families in a Spanish speaking, high poverty neighborhood in Southern California. The study requires multiple, longitudinal measures which pose challenges to both recruitment and retention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the barriers to recruitment and retention of urban Latino immigrant population. 2. Identify programmatic strategies for retention of participants. 3. Identify organizational strategies for retention of participants. 4. Demonstrate key aspects to providing outreach services to low literacy, monolingual Spanish-speaking Latino populations.

Keywords: Latino, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.doc format, 89.0 kb)

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA