Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, PhD, MPH
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, IPR, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Robert Garcia, PhD student
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Behavior, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Jimi Huh, PhD
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Claradina Soto, PhD
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Rosa Barahona
,
Master of Public Health, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Kacie Blackman, PhD
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Behavior, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Sheila Murphy, PhD
,
Annenberg School of Communication, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Tess Cruz, PhD, MPH, CHES
,
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Steve Sussman, PhD, FAAHB, FAPA
,
Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer B. Unger, PhD
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Luanne Rohrbach, PhD MPH
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Marisela Robles, MS
,
Office of Community Engagement, Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Katrina Kubicek, PhD
,
Division of Research on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
James Garbanati, PhD
,
Clinical PhD Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Alhambra, CA
Maria Lemus
,
Vision Y Compromiso, Los Angeles, CA
Melinda Cordero-Barzaga
,
Network of Promotoras and Community Health Workers, Vision y Compromiso, Los Angeles, CA
Paula Amezola De Herrera, MPH
,
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalim, University of Southern California, Marina Del Rey, CA
Robert Gomez, MPH student
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Behavior, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Yaneth Rodriguez, MPH
,
Institute for Prevention Research & Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tobacco Education & Materials Lab (TEAM Lab) University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Christopher Castro
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Behavior, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Shuang Zhang, MPH student
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Behavior, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Three community-based CHWs/Promotoras de Salud-academic research partnerships explore how neighborhood characteristics (rural vs. urban) are associated with equity indicators in vulnerable communities; and how CHWs/Promotras can use these indicators to maximize community change: Regale-Salud, Su-Corazón-Su-Vida, and Tobacco-Retailers engaged CHWs/Promotoras in urban and rural neighborhoods of California on tobacco policy and obesity prevention to reduce health inequities. 1) Regale-Salud is a CHW/Promotora-driven communication campaign in low-income Latino multi-unit-housing in semi-rural Riverside and urban Los Angeles. One hundred and seventy-five door-to-door and 400 telephone surveys revealed differences in equity indicators and adoption of secondhand-smoke policies between rural/urban neighborhoods. 2) In Su-Corazón–Su-Vida 25 Promotoras engaged 700 Latinos in a healthy-eating/physical activity program in rural Kern and urban Los Angeles. Use of technology (webinars, Facebook, mobile phones) and researchers’ attention to rural/urban needs contributed to reducing inequities and kept participants engaged. 3) Tobacco-Retailers partnered with CHWs/Promotoras in survey research, GIS mapping, and environmental scans in 8 neighborhoods in urban Latino, African-American, Korean neighborhoods, and American Indian reservations. Data from 30 Key informants, 30 environmental scans, retailers’ surveys, and neighborhoods’ ratings on health equity indicators reveal unique needs when working in ethnically and geographically diverse neighborhoods. These studies provide strategies for maximizing CHWs'/Promotoras' effectiveness as change agents in achieving health equity in rural/urban neighborhoods. Capacity building, social will, resources, social media, human and social capital is explored. Although some neighborhoods lack financial resources, their social and human capital provides invaluable assets to help eliminate health inequities. CHWs'/Promotoras' involvement includes working on the studies, abstract, and presentation at APHA.
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health
