The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41091

Jessica Perlmutter, MArch, Resource Management Division, United Way of Miami-Dade, 3250 SW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33129, 305-646-7093, perlmutj@unitedwaymiami.org and Marta R. Pizarro, MPA, Consultant, 12711 S.W. 66 Terrace Drive, Miami, FL 33183.

Recently arrived immigrants living in Miami's East Little Havana neighborhood experience many barriers to accessing health care and have substantial health disparities compared to Miami-Dade County as a whole. The Equipo project utilizes indigenous health promoters to monitor health care status and assist neighborhood residents in accessing preventive and primary health care. Developed by Annie E. Casey Foundation at Abriendo Puertas, a neighborhood-based organization in East Little Havana, Equipo is a team of community residents (called madrinas and padrinos) and professionals, trained together to provide a range of neighborhood services. Using a Peruvian CHW model, Proyecto Uni Trujillo, the Equipo has partnered with a local community health clinic to address health care access issues. Madrinas/padrinos assist families in developing family health records, which can be used to monitor and improve health outcomes for all members of the household. The madrina/padrino identifies health risk factors, develops a supportive relationship with the family and helps them navigate the health care system. The madrina/padrino monitors the family’s health status, makes appropriate referrals and conducts peer education on preventive health care topics including prenatal care, child development, immunizations, asthma and diabetes. In Peru, neighborhood promotoras visit families together with a professional health worker from the local clinic, but in Miami, the madrinas/padrinos work together as a team, consulting with and making referrals to health professionals at the local clinic. The Equipo empowers local residents to address barriers to health care access and builds community capacity to advocate for systems change.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session the participants will be able to

• identify five key features of the ÔProyecto Uni TrujilloÕ model
• list a set of significant risk factors for assessing and monitoring family health status
• discuss what is needed for successful implementation of a community health worker project in an inner city immigrant community

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Kellogg Foundation - Community Voices Initiative United Way of America - 100% Access Campaign
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: project funded with grants from Kellogg Foundation and United Way of America