Let’s spread the word: Working toward a healthier community through Urban Health Care Workers


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

3071.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 7

Abstract #112871

Carol Benson, BS¹, Hoa Nguyen, BS¹, Youngeun Park, BS¹, R. Patti Herring, PhD, RN², Susanne Montgomery, PhD, MPH³, Marie Prosper, BS³, and Minzah Z. Malik, BS¹. (1) Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, 909-558-8729, rncbenson2002@yahoo.com, (2) School of Public Health, Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Nichol Hall, Room 1509, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (3) Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350

Lay health advisors, Promotora, Urban Health Care Workers, (UHCW), the names are many but their goal is the same: filling the gap in underserved and disadvantaged populations where culturally competent and sensitive care is needed. UHCW serve as crucial links between their communities and providers and help increase the use of available preventive services by build trust between these populations and the providers. Using a participatory empowerment process we worked with a local community-based organization to identify and train UHCW. A needs assessment was conducted to determine the training needs of the targeted UHCWs. The outreach worked selected for this project included homeless individuals for outreach to the homeless population, youth to reach out to other youth, HIV positive individuals to assist that population and Latina women to reach Latina families. Ethnographic observations, eight key informant interviews and one confirmatory focus group were conducted and analyzed using grounded theory methods. In addition to needing more effective communication skills participants indicated needing further education in nutrition, the importance of exercise, and knowledge about available community services. This paper will present the results (process & impact) of a pilot program delivered as a result of this information with a discussion on how to best monitor and improve and keep this type of program sustainable.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, participates will be able to

1. Identify three basic principles of public health practices useful to Urban Health Care Workers (UHCW).
2. Identify five tasks that UHCW can perform in their perspective communities.
3. Describe how they would apply the project’s lesson learned among underserved populations in their area.

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Access and Services

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.

Community Health Workers In Action

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA