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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Erin C. Wilson, MPH¹, FongChing Ching, MPH², Priscilla Chu, MPH², Juan G. Ibarra, MPH, MSW², Eddy Jara, MPH², Valarie Jernigan, MPH², Lise Loeb, MPH², Mohsen Malekinejad, MD, MPH², and Alicia Salvatore, MPH². (1) Division of Adolescent Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, #2, Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323-669-2390, ewilson@chla.usc.edu, (2) Doctor of Public Health program, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall #7360, Berkeley, CA 94720

Promotoras are community health workers, agents of change working through informal social networks to increase the health and well being of communities throughout the U.S. Evidence indicates that promotoras are effective at increasing access to health services, promoting behavior change, and providing social support and culturally competent, cost-effective care. Yet, there exists a gap between existing resources that support promotora programs and their ability to access those resources.

In collaboration with the California promotora network organization Visión y Compromiso (VYC), [students] (the team) developed a user-friendly website that links promotoras to the information needed to be effective health workers. The team conducted a literature review and ethnographic fieldwork to: 1) investigate the added value of promotoras to public health, including the breadth and scope of health promotion; and 2) identify innovative and existing resources for promotoras. Using the Spectrum of Prevention Framework, the team conceptualized the roles and benefits of promotoras in local communities and identified resources that support promotora programs. Based on an assessment of promising communication channels targeting promotora program coordinators, findings were communicated in the form of a user-friendly accessible website (http://www.promotorashelp.org/). The information was presented at the 2005 Visión y Compromiso Promotora and Community Health Worker Network Annual State Conference.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify three resources to support promotora programs.
• Identify one strategy for schools of public health to collaborate with community-based organizations to promote health.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered