Programacin en Espaol Addressing the Diverse Educational Needs of the Hispanic Audience

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Programación en EspañolAddressing the Diverse
Educational Needs of the Hispanic Audience

• Jean Hall Dwyer
• Extension Communications Specialist
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System
• Dr. Julio Correa
• Extension Animal Scientist
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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Website Background

• Began work on website in May 2001.
• Why a website?
• Why information in Spanish?

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Development of the Website

• Began by searching the web for research-based
  publications on URBAN topics available
  electronically in Spanish.
• Reviewed each publication for content, cultural
  appropriateness, and accurateness of information
  and translation.

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Development continued

• Have since added non-urban topics per requests
  received from around the country across the
  world.
• Attended various conferences to showcase the
  website, gathered ideas, and got suggestions for
  additions and changes to the website.

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Development continued

• Attended and presented 3 workshops at the
  National Extension Technology Conference (NETC)
  at Pennsylvania State University in May 2002.
• Participants requested that we add an English
  titles only areas to assist non-Spanish
  speaking service providers.

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Development continued

• Further changed and enhanced the look of the
  website
• Included flag links to each country
• Added censes data, consulates, and United Nations
  links.
• Continue our search for new links to publications
  and websites. Request you give us suggestions on
  your evaluation.

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Development continued

• In May 2003, when I last presented at an Urban
  Conference, we linked to over 750 publications,
  websites, and media sites.
• As of today, we link to over 3,600 publications,
  websites, and media sites.

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WebTrends Data

• March 2006 April 2007
• (Mar 06 Apr 07 are both partial months)

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Visits to Site by Month
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Duration of Visits by Month
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Compare Visits to Urban Visits
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Compare Duration to Urban
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Compare Visit Origins
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Lets Experience the Website!

• Programación en Españolhttp//www.aces.edu/urban/
  spanish

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Best Practices Model Program
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Best Practices

• Hire native Spanish speaking agents, assistants,
  or specialists when possible.
• Use volunteers from the community. But, check
  their standing in the community.
• Form partnerships with Hispanic churches,
  coalitions, and organizations that already exist.

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Model ProgramAlbertville Cinco de Mayo

• Provide an opportunity for the community to
  gather and enjoy themselves, ALWAYS include kid
  stuff.
• Provides free services and information
• Banking
• Housing
• Health Services
• Emergency services

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Cinco de Mayo continued

• Predict improvements for the Hispanic community
• More willingness to contact emergency services.
• Increase in the number of bank accounts.
• Increase in the number receiving health care.

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Suggestions for Servingthe Hispanic Audience
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Suggestions

• Once you begin a program for Hispanics, DO NOT
  desert them! Its NOT a one-time issue. Build
  them into your programs.
• Over 1,000 medical links went DEAD in August 2006
  due to a hospital redesigning their website and
  just dropping all their Spanish publications!

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Questions Anyone?
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Muchas Gracias Yall!