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Promotores de Salud
Modeled after
similar programs in
other cities, Promotores
de Salud serve as
permanent links between
the Hispanic community
and healthcare
providers. Promotores work toward
bringing needed cases to
medical attention, help
assure that prescribed
diagnoses and treatments
are understood, and to
provide follow-up
attention.
Promotores Mission
To empower the Hispanic
community to take
control of their health
by teaching them how to
access appropriate
health care and
community resources.
What are
Promotores de Salud?
¨
A lay
community health worker
or lay community health
educator
¨
A natural
leader within the
community who is able to
identify with
individuals and groups
providing advice and
support among members in
the community through
education, advocacy and
community participation
Core Roles of Promotores
¨
Create a
bridge between community
and health system
¨
Provide
culturally appropriate
health education and
information
¨
Assist
people in getting the
services they need
¨
Provide
informal counseling and
social support
¨
Advocate
for individuals to help
them meet their basic
health care needs
Why a program for
Hispanics/Latinos
¨
Create a
bridge between community
and health system
¨
Growing
population
¨
Change in
health concerns from
home country to the
United States
¨
Cultural/Language
Barriers
¨
Lack of
understanding of
American health System
*Information from the NW
Georgia Healthcare
Partnership
Monthly Luncheons
La Paz hosts a
monthly luncheon of
individuals in different
community organizations
that work with
Hispanics. These
well-attended luncheons
serve as a networking
venue for the various
organizations and to
receive updates on
developments in the
Hispanic community.
Chattanooga Police
Academy for Hispanic
Citizens La
Paz collaborates with
the Chattanooga Police
Department in hosting an
academy geared toward
teaching Hispanics
cooperation with the
police and in using the
police department when
their safety is at
stake. La Paz helps
create an atmosphere of
trust while at the same
time helping to address
issues of police abuse
when they take place.
Corporate Sponsorship of
Events
Sponsorships not only
help La Paz financially,
they also help corporate
entities access the
Hispanic market for
their products. A major
event sponsored by La
Paz is the Hispanic
Fair, geared toward a
celebration of Hispanic
culture via cuisine,
music, and dance. A
second major event is
the Hispanic Health Fair
where hundreds of
Hispanics receive free
basic health screenings.
Specific Aspects of
the Ministry
La Paz acts as a
referral service for
clients with immediate
needs.
The referral areas
include:
Legal Services
-
Public Safety.
This includes
working with
Hispanic victims of
crime in reporting
to the Chattanooga
Police Department.
La Paz also works
with the Police
Department in
educating Hispanics
on how to minimize
the chances of
becoming future
victims and on how
police forces work
in the United States
in contrast with
their home
countries.
-
Immigration.
Hispanics often have
issues of
immigration law
pertaining to their
presence in the
United States. We
refer them to
trusted specialists
in immigration law.
-
Discrimination.
Hispanics are often
victims of
discrimination. La
Paz will refer
victims to the
appropriate
government agencies
to address the
matter.
-
Documentation.
La Paz will assist
in Hispanics
obtaining proper
documentation and
identification
needed for a variety
of services.
Financial Services
Hispanics are often
unknowledgeable about or
mistrust financial
institutions, dealing
strictly in cash. La Paz
refers them to financial
institutions desiring
Hispanic clientele.
Healthcare
Hispanics are frequently
uninsured yet in need of
medical assistance. La
Paz refers them to
healthcare resources in
the community that will
care for the uninsured.
Housing Services
La Paz offers assistance
in finding appropriate
housing or in resolving
issues dealing with
landlords.
Social Services
La Paz assists the
victims of domestic
violence and refers them
to the resources
available in the
community for these
victims.
English Training
La Paz refers clients to
various ESL (English as
Second Language) classes
offered in the
community.
Translation and
Interpretation
It would be impossible
for La Paz to lend
assistance without
skills in both Spanish
and English. Much of the
work requires either the
translation of documents
and/or interpretation
services at the
appropriate agency.
Emergency Food &
Clothing Some of
our clients arrive in
Chattanooga in need of
clothing; some have
little or no food. La
Paz keeps donated
clothing for
distribution and obtains
food from the
Chattanooga Food Bank. |
