Exploring the sustainability of a school-based CHW outreach model to support Latino families and their adolescents

Background: Nearly 40% of Latino adolescents drop out of high school in the U.S. Despite cultural and familial protective assets, risk factors are contributing to problematic outcomes for Latino youth. These youth may benefit from a school-based community health worker (CHW) outreach model that provides support to their parents to encourage adolescent school success and emotional well-being. Often, schools provide services to support education, such as counseling, social work and nursing but these rarely extend into the home. In this study, we piloted Project Wings Home Visits, a school-based CHW home visiting program for Latino families. Methods: Partners representing school, community clinic, and university settings developed the model. Families who enrolled in the program had students exhibiting risk factors, such as truancy, poor grade performance, and social isolation; most were recruited via school staff referrals. The CHWs provided individualized parent education with topics ranging from adolescent development, mental health, and substance use to discipline, academic motivation, and respect. Support and resources varied by family needs (e.g., food shelf and employment resources). Results: Fifteen immigrant, Spanish-speaking Latino families enrolled. A CHW provided monthly home visits and regular phone calls to each family, collaborating with school staff to follow-up identified concerns. The CHWs experienced the need to set boundaries so that families were supported, rather than ‘rescued'. Conclusion: Families felt supported, school staff benefited from gained insights, and CHWs demonstrated efficient, effective care. Thorough school support for Latino students, and families, may be optimized using a CHW home visiting outreach model.