Georgia Latino/Hispanic Health Agenda and Leadership Project: A Community-Based Approach to Reducing Health Disparities Among Latinos in Georgia

Introduction: In 2004, Georgia had the fastest-growing Latino population in the U.S., thus increasing awareness of the health concerns and challenges faced by the Hispanic community and those who serve it. Nevertheless, there was no comprehensive resource available which detailed the health needs of the Latino community in Georgia or how to best reach and serve this growing population. The National Council of La Raza's Institute for Hispanic Health (NCLR/IHH), in collaboration with Healthcare Georgia Foundation, developed the Georgia Latino/Hispanic Health Agenda and Leadership Project to collect information that accurately reflects the health care needs of this rapidly-growing population and to establish policy objectives that adequately address their health needs.

Methods: First, focus group discussions with community-based organizations (CBOs) were conducted throughout the state, as well as key informant interviews with Latino health leaders. A comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed journals and the collection of Georgia-specific health information from state and national databases supported this research and enriched the Health Agenda.

Second, the project focused on increasing the capacity of Latino CBOs to advocate for health care changes in their local communities, increasing the community's capacity to serve as statewide advocates and as an information resource on Latino/Hispanic health.

Conclusion: The outcomes of this research have become an important resource for those in Georgia who work with Hispanics and may also serve as a model for other states in the Southeast with growing Hispanic populations who want to comprehensively document health needs.