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Hispanic Health Workers and LIVESTRONG

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Minority and medically underserved populations encounter numerous barriers when accessing the healthcare system. Cultural factors, including language, beliefs, values and traditions, can influence underlying risk factors, health behaviors, beliefs about illness and approaches to treatment. For the past several years, LIVESTRONG has focused on reducing these barriers, creating culturally appropriate educational materials and working with organizations in underserved communities.

Promotores, or Hispanic Community Health Workers, have been successful in helping underserved populations overcome many of these barriers. Promotores are often vital in linking underserved and disenfranchised clients with essential health and human services. The uniqueness of their services lies in their ability to relate to clients through shared experiences drawn from living in the same communities. Firsthand knowledge of the barriers that affect the health of a community give Promotores a stake in eliminating those barriers.

LIVESTRONG developed materials for the Promotores to improve the quality of life of Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors. The training curriculum was made possible through a CDC grant and the National Strategies for the Prevention, Early Detection or Survivorship of Cancer in Underserved Populations initiative. Through a cooperative agreement with the CDC, we have developed a curriculum on the topic of cancer survivorship for Hispanic/Latino Community Health Workers or Promotores. The development of the curriculum will allow LIVESTRONG to reach Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors who access services provided by Promotores. Through the use of Promotores, the survivors will learn how to improve communication with their healthcare providers through the use of tools such as the Cancer Survivor?s Health Journal. Our Cancer Survivorship Curriculum provides the knowledge, skills and motivation to improve the quality of life of Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors and consists of four sessions that are dedicated to providing the tools and strategies to promote cancer survivors to keep track of the emotional, physical and practical concerns of cancer survivorship.

The final version of the curriculum is now available for free download at LIVESTRONG.org/Espanol. Individuals have the opportunity to either download the curriculum to conduct in-person trainings in their community or they can take the online version of the training for free as well.

LIVESTRONG has plans to increase awareness and utilization of the curriculum by partnering with Community-based Organizations, Promotores Associations and Migrant Clinician?s Network. For more information about how your organization can take part in the Promotores Project, please go to our website in english or to our Spanish Website www.livestrong.org/espanol

  • http://australianwomenphotos.blogspot.com Australian Woman

    I am so glad that the LiveSTRONG organization is paying attention to this cause. It is near and dear to my heart since we have similar problems here in Sydney. God Bless You, Lance!