283790
Addressing disparities in access to information for hispanic families of children with special health care needs: Increasing use of family-to-family centers
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Suzanne Bronheim, PhD,
Center for Child and Human Development, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Sandra Soto, MPH, BSN,
San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Health Behavior), San Diego, CA
Bruno Anthony, PhD,
Center for Child and Human Development, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Background: Findings from the 2009-2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs reflect significant disparities for Hispanic families in receiving needed services due to lack of information. Federally funded family-to-family centers (F2F) help families who utilize their services gain information. This collaboration between Georgetown University and two F2Fs tests a diffusion of innovation model to increase utilization of F2Fs by Hispanic families. Methods: Focus groups of both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Hispanic families in two states with a confirming Delphi procedure explored factors related to adopting F2F use and the nature of current family communication networks. Results: Families seeking information at key change points turn to formal sources, although Spanish-speaking families noted that due to language barriers, they also turned to family and friends. Families prefer getting information in one-on-one encounters rather than via technologies. F2Fs being staffed by parents of children with SHN is a relative advantage, and race or ethnicity of the staff was not an essential feature in using F2Fs, although services in Spanish was. Findings indicated that cultural values might impede turning outside the family for support and that concerns about federally funded programs serving all families or being cut impacted families views of using F2Fs. Conclusions: Increasing the use of F2Fs by Hispanic families entails increasing awareness and acceptance by their social networks and by social marketing efforts that focus on factors identified. At the policy level, there needs to be a recognition of the strong preference for person-to-person support rather than technological approaches.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Learning Objectives:
Explain the importance of social communication networks in Hispanic families with children with special health care needs utilizing family-to-family centers.
Name two factors that may impact the compatability of using family-to-family centers with personal and family values and beliefs.
Describe how findings about Hispanic families with children with special health care needs perceptions about using family-to-family information centers can impact social marketing and policy decisions.
Keyword(s): Access and Services, Health Disparities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I coordinated a national network of communities use collaborative strategies better serve CSHNC and their families. I was PI on a project to increase access to care through managed care for CSHCN and am co-PI on the project being presented. I provide training/technical assistance to state programs, health care systems, health care providers and public health workers on cultural and linguistic competence to serve diverse children and their families and address health disparities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
