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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Carolina Gonzalez-Schlenker, MD MPH, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8620 113th Ave., Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, 262 942 7375, cgonzalezschlenker@gmail.com

The influx of undocumented Latinos into the US continues in spite of efforts at the state and national level to deter their entrance. A wide range of political and civic activity and discourse goes on about how to deal with this population's presence in the midst of US communities, including how to best address their health care needs. However, the overarching economic system that fuels this migration and determines much of their life situation in the US is seldom included in the analysis that informs decision making. Frameworks are needed that integrate the impact of political and economic variables on the health of undocumented immigrants. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides and excellent tool for this purpose. The Latino Health Organization (LHO) of Wisconsin utilized the ICF to analyze a new state health program that covers the prenatal care of undocumented pregnant women. Biomedical, functional as well as environmental factors are coded and correlated to provide a holistic picture of the health policy at hand and the barriers and facilitators that exist to achieve the expected health outcomes. The ICF allowed LHO to be an effective advocate and facilitate communication between politicians, health care providers and the community.

Learning Objectives: