The North Carolina HispanicLatino Lay Health Initiative

1
The North Carolina Hispanic/LatinoLay Health
Initiative
Barbara Garland August 2006
2
Background
North Carolina Institute of Medicine 2003 Latino
Health Report The Hispanic Health Task Force,
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities,
NCDHHS Hispanic/Latino Lay Health Advisor
Development Team
3
NC Institute of Medicine Findings

• Major impediments to Latino health and healthcare
  are
• Unfamiliarity with health care system
• Ineffective interaction with healthcare
  providers and vise versa

4
NC Institute of Medicine Findings, (cont.)

• Lack of health literacy
• Differing cultural beliefs and practices
• Communication barriers

5
NCIM Recommendations

• That the NCDHHS take the lead in convening a lay
  health advisor development group to
• Develop training for Latino lay health advisors
• Identify funding sources for programs in
  counties
• with large concentrations of Latino residents

6
Structure Building for a LHA Program

• Establishing essential structures and processes
  for supporting LHA programs at state and local
  levels
• The Program Coordinator
• Importance, roles, qualifications,
• time required.

7
Structure Building for a LHA Program (CONT.)

• The Structure
• Elements
• Leadership, mission statement,
• committees, decision making
• Lay health advisors
• Natural abilities, skills, niche,
• team building

8
Latino Lay Health Advisor Curriculum for LHA
Trainers

• Train-the-trainer curriculum for program managers
• Each chapter includes
• A lesson outline with learning objectives, an
• overview, key points, time needed and
  references
• Support materials
• Suggestions for presenting the material in a
• culturally appropriate manner

9
LHA Trainers Curriculum Content

• Sessions
• Hispanics/Latinos in North Carolina
• Promoting Health in NC
• LHA Models that Work
• Starting a LHA Program in your community

10
LHA Trainers Curriculum Content (cont.)

• Preparing for a Lay Health Advisor Program
• Using the LHA Curriculum
• Supporting and Maintaining a LHA program
• 8. Evaluating a Lay Health Advisor Program

11
The Health Modules for LHAs

• Health modules contain specific health and
  health-related information including
• Overview of issue affecting Hispanic/Latino
• population in NC
• Key points/messages to be shared with
• Hispanic/Latino community members

12
The Health Modules for LHAs, (Cont.)

• Suggested activities, educational methods
• Suggested evaluation questions to determine
• learning
• Resources for community members

13
LHA Health Module Topics

• Chronic Diseases
• Injury Prevention
• Reproductive Health
• Child Health
• Communicable Diseases
• Mental Health

14
Desired Outcomes of Latino Lay Health Advisor
Initiative

• State and local agency leadership
• and accountability
• Clearly defined roles of state and
• community partners
• Support for Lay Health Advisors in the
• form of technical assistance, materials
• and resources

15
Desired Outcomes of Lay Health Advisor
Initiative, (cont)

• Hispanic/Latino Lay health Advisor
• programs with defined goals, objectives
• and outcomes
• Participatory evaluation
• Improved health outcomes in the targeted
• communities