Community Asset Mapping to Inform Physical Activity and Health and Safety Promotion Interventions in Lower Rio Grande Colonias

ENLACE is a community-based participatory research project designed to enhance Latina’s engagement in physical activity and promote social support and collective efficacy through access to culturally appropriate, economical physical activity resources in Lower Rio Grande Valley colonias. The multi-level approach to promoting physical activity among this underserved Latina population involves attention to environmental and socio-cultural factors as well as individual attitudes and skills. To assess local residents’ perspectives of their residential environs, we conducted a series of two-part Community Asset Mapping (CAM) sessions in 8 colonias. Promotoras in each community invited women to participate and conducted the CAM sessions. Participants (n=89) ranged from 20 to 60 years of age. In the first session, promotoras guided participants through the process of identifying health and safety concerns, enumerating local assets and resources to address each concern, and locating community resources and assets on a map. In the subsequent session, participants actually visited specific local sites to assess public safety, security and suitability for engaging in physical activity. The major physical and mental health concerns residents identified included obesity, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, stress, depression, feelings of alienation and lack of medical personnel and facilities. Findings from the participatory environmental scans indicated concerns related to lack of green spaces, trash, industrial pollution, and violence. Major assets across the eight colonias were the services and staff of local Community Resource Centers and religious organizations. Findings informed the development of the promotora-delivered physical activity and community health and safety interventions which are currently being offered.