The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69898

Jessie Legros, MPH¹, Rosebud Foster, EdD¹, Steven B Zucker, DMD, MEd¹, Gustavo Saldias, MPH¹, Joseph Peters¹, Matt Rolison¹, and Francois Leconte². (1) Area Health Education Center, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 S. University Drive, Suite 1588, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, 954 262 1581, jlegros@nova.edu, (2) Minority Development & Empowerment, 1703 North Andrews Square, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311

Community Health Workers (CHWs) offer unparalleled opportunities to improve the delivery of preventive and primary health care to cultural and linguistic minorities in the community while addressing behavior, lifestyle and social determinants of health. Because CHWs are members of the community in which they work, they are recognized as an effective and efficient means of improving health by bridging cultural mediation between communities and health and social service systems. Recognizing this vital link, the Florida Border Health Education and Training Centers (HETC) Program, in collaboration with the Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network, and several community-based agencies has developed both a statewide Train-the-Trainer Program to maximize the contribution and impact of CHWs in preventing disease, and local community trainings of CHWs, thus promoting well being in the community. With their unique roles and abilities to develop partnerships between communities and academic health programs, the HETCs and AHECs throughout Florida have adopted an effective strategy to prepare Community Health Worker Outreach Specialists who in turn serve as local trainers of CHWs in their respective communities. The second phase of this two-pronged initiative emphasizes innovative community-based approaches to program and policy development aimed at reducing disparities in cardiovascular disease and promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles. While developing models of collaboration with health and social service agencies to implement local CHW training programs, it is projected that this effort will evolve into a sustainable statewide approach to CHW training.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how several cultural and linguistic communities were involved in planning, implementing, disseminating and evaluating the Florida Border HETC/Florida AHEC Network Community Health Worker Cardiovascular Initiative
• Describe the tools and materials that were used as part of this Cardiovascular Initiative
• Describe the steps in developing strategic partnerships with community-based agencies and the Florida Department of Health’s ‘Closing the Gap Program’ to promote cardiovascular health in several communities in the state of Florida.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Community Health Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Heart Blood and Lung Institute
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.