Transcript Lay Health Promoter (LHP) Program

Lay Health Promoter (LHP) Program
Working Group of Creciendo Juntos
• Jan Wolfe, FNP
Co-facilitator of the Lay Health Promoter Working Group, Creciendo Juntos
Clinical Director, Rural Health Outreach Program
• Nila Saliba
Co-facilitator of the Lay Health Promoter Working Group, Creciendo Juntos
UVA Cancer Center
• Katie Burke, MS
Co-facilitator of the Lay Health Promoter Working Group, Creciendo Juntos
Community Educator, Planned Parenthood Health Systems
• Creciendo Juntos (Growing Together) is an inter-agency
and inter-community network for issues related to the
Latino/Hispanic community in Charlottesville City, Albemarle
County, and surrounding areas. www.cj-network.org
• Lay Health Promoter Program (LHP) is a working group of
Creciendo Juntos. The LHP has been used successfully in
Latin America to enhance health services to underserved
populations. The model utilizes informal support systems in
communities, typically training several members as
“promotoras” who, in turn, engage and inform their families,
friends, and neighbors on important health issues and connect
them to their medical services.
Activities to date
• May 2007, start of LHP working group meetings. Linda Hemby,
Dilcia Colindres, Jan Wolfe, Martha Trujillo, Ivonne Lopez, and
Lindsey Holcomb.
• Discussion with Karen Bunn, Director of LHP program at Cross
Over Health Center in Richmond, VA.
• Creciendo Juntos September plenary with LHP group and Karen
Bunn.
• Hispanic outreach fair in Southwood, September 2007.
• Began conducting health needs assessment among residents in
Southwood, November 2007-present.
US Census Bureau stats on Latinos in Charlottesville/Albemarle
•In 1990, the Latino population was at 1.16% of a total population of 108,381.
•In 2000, grew to 2.52% of a total population of 124,258 individuals.
•In 2005, grew to 4.25% of a total population of 161,712 individuals.
•Census figures show that during the last decade, the Latino population in Virginia
increased 105.6%, compared to the overall population growth of 14.4%. (Nowak
2004)
•Similarly, while the total population of Central Virginia grew by 21.6%, the increase
for Latinos was 151.8%. (Nowak 2004)
•A recent report indicates that Latino growth may be even higher in our area.
“School enrollment is a strong indicator of the trends in the general population, and
these figures represent a 384% increase in the LEP student body over the past nine
years in Albemarle, and a 555% increase over ten years in Charlottesville.”
(Charlottesville/Albemarle Commission on Children and Families, 2005) Most of
these LEP students are Latinos.
Southwood
The 100-acre Southwood Mobile Home Park is located off of 5th
street extended, about a mile from the 120 exit of interstate 64. It
was opened in the mid 1970s and contains some 360 trailers.
Actual number of residents is unknown; estimates are between
1,800 and 3,000. All of its residents are low income; over half are
Spanish speaking Mexicans, Salvadorans and Hondurans.
Overview of Southwood Health Survey
• Latino residents of 65 trailers were interviewed, between October
20th and November 15th, 2007.
• Comparison: 19 Latinos in 3 focus groups in January.
• A draft report: February 16th
• Report presented: March
• Linda Hemby, sociologist coordinating survey and tabulating
results.
Already recognized health needs from
conversations with Latinos in Southwood
• Mental Health
-stress, anxiety, and depression related to immigration, language
barriers, and other unknowns.
• Chronic disease management
-respiratory diseases, diabetes, kidney problems.
• Birth control
Top ten leading causes of death in the
U.S. in 2002 for Latinos
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Heart disease
Cancer
Unintentional injuries
Stroke
Diabetes
Chronic liver disease and Cirrhosis
Homicide
Chronic lower respiratory disease
Pneumonia and Influenza
Birth defects
Source:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/healthpolicy/minorityhealth/hisp
anic/index.htm
Goals of the LHP program
• Initiated as a means to meet the obvious need for basic health
knowledge of Latino residents in Charlottesville/Albemarle area.
• Established to empower and equip Latino citizens to be involved
in the process of improving their health, the health of others, and
the health of their communities.
• Program based on the idea that individuals who understand
disease prevention and wellness are more likely to remain in good
health, become efficient health educators in their communities,
and good health care consumers when they do require medical
attention.
Trained LHP will be able to:
• Effectively help others access the heath care system and
resources they need, thus reducing the number of individuals
who postpone early treatment.
• Participate in a variety of community outreach events and
possibly volunteer with health related organizations (depends
on a variety of factors)
• Use this educational outreach opportunity as a stepping stone
to other opportunities (continue their education, acquire pt/ft
paid position, etc.)
Program Outline
• First class from the Southwood community.
• LHP program offered without charge to Southwood residents who
are interested in becoming LHP.
• 15 participants per class.
• 32-hour course taught over an 8-week period. 4 hours/week.
• Begin September 16th, 2008 until October 30th. Graduation will be
November 6.
• Classes meet twice a week (Tuesday/Thursday) from 6-8pm.
• The hope is to hold classes at the Boys and Girls Club space in
Southwood. Awaiting confirmation- space unavialable
• Meetings will be held at the ACOB
Program outline contd.
• Fall 2008 class & Fall 2009 class: 30 participants.
• Training content will range from basic information about
medical resources in the community, hand washing and
healthy eating habits, to more complicated issues such as
detection of high blood pressure, breast cancer, and diabetes to
a name a few.
• Classes are structured to encourage participation and sharing
of experiences.
• Participants recruited from flyers, newspaper articles (Nuevas
Raices), door-to-door solicitation in Southwood, church
bulletins, word of mouth, etc.
• Participants receive 32 hours of instruction and are required to give
back 20 hours within a 6-month period.
• Record card to keep track of their time. Signatures are required.
•20-hours can be accomplished by:
-talking about what was learned with family, friends, and/or
community neighbors.
-helping with outreach events (fairs, screenings, etc.) planned by
the LHP program or other health related organization.
-volunteering/interning with health related agencies who might be
in need of an interpreter, educator, someone to design
handouts/materials, etc.
Volunteer/intern program
• Solicit volunteer/intern positions with local health/service
organizations.
• Allow trained/graduated lay health promoters to select from the
options and seek out those positions on their own.
• It is up to the local organization and the lay health promoter to
work out a schedule since we only require them to give back 20
hours total.
• Organization signs the record card.
Other options for documented LHPs.
• Attend ESL classes or go to the interpreter/translator training
in Harrisonburg (out of their pocket)
• Continue to help with outreach fairs and events in the
commmunity.
• Continue on with education (PVCC, CATEC, etc.
• Apply for PT/FT jobs
Undocumented
• For those without their papers we will see if there are any
health/service organizations willing to take on an
undocumented volunteer.
• If not, undocumented lay health promoters will have these
options to complete their necessary hours:
-educate their families, friends and neighbors about what they
learned.
-volunteer with outreach fairs and screenings coordinated by
creciendo juntos, churches, community groups, etc.
• Can work towards getting their papers.
• Take ESL classes if needed.
Evaluation component
• Creation of pre and post tests for each class session to
determine learning.
• Community service evaluation: creation of a simple checklist
for agencies or folks they worked with re: knowledge base,
dependability, would you participate in our
volunteer/internship program again, etc.?
• Evaluation at end of program in November to identify pros and
cons of program. Ask participants if they would recommend
program, what would you change, favorite parts, etc.?
Graduation
• Graduation ceremony: November
• Certificates of accomplishment
• Continuing education
Ways to get involved
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Serve as a trainer/instructor
Logistics
Creation of evaluation tools
Financially: donate, grant writing, fundraising, etc.
Promotion/marketing
Other donations: food/snacks for LHPs, child care, materials,
etc.
• Other ideas?