Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102220

Chris Walker, MPH, Project Dulce, Whittier Institute for Diabetes, 9894 Genesee, La Jolla, CA 92037, 760-471-8093, walker.chris@scrippshealth.org

Project Dulce is a model of diabetes care that uses nurse-led teams to provide clinical care and CHWs (promotoras) to provide diabetes self-management education and support. The program has provided care to nearly 4000 persons with diabetes in 19 community health center and university ambulatory care settings in San Diego over the last seven years; and continues to achieve significant improvements in health status and health-related behaviors.

CHWs are an integral member of the care team. CHWs are people with diabetes who display leadership skills as well success in managing their own disease. A four month, competency-based training program prepares these individuals to be effective diabetes peer educators. CHWs from Hispanic, Vietnamese, Filipino, and African-American backgrounds have been trained, and formal evaluations have documented improvements in health behaviors and health status among class participants.

In this session, Project Dulce peer educators will describe their training, experience, role in evaluation and data management, and their perspectives on barriers and facilitators to being members of a multidisciplinary care team. Recommendations for changes in public policy and American Diabetes Association recognition criteria, as well as proposed CHW certification criteria, will be presented by the program director.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Identify three roles that CHWs can play as members of the healthcare team.
  7. Describe three components of a competency-based training program for CHWs.
  11. Identify three policy barriers to spreading the use of CHWs for chronic disease management.

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.