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Promotora program

The Promotora model is a culturally sensitive, lay health educator for the Latina community. It has been used throughout the United States to address domestic violence, chronic disease, and oral health.

At the core of the Promotores program is the recruitment of Latino community members who because they live in the community and have shared experiences, possess an intimate understanding of the community's social networks as well as its strengths and challenges. Because of these connections and knowledge, they are well placed to function as health navigators to work within their own Latino communities to assist Public Health - Seattle & King County.

The Promotores program extends the ability of the Application Workers and Health Educators on the Access and Outreach team, as the promotores have a unique ability to reach into their networks of friends, family, neighbors and deliver information from a trusted source. Although many of our staff is bilingual and bicultural, their education level and the fact that they are government employees can sometimes create additional barriers for segments of the community.

Successful models in Access and Outreach

  • Breast cancer education and screening for Latinas

    The Access and Outreach team operates from an integrated model, offering brief health education contacts within the context of outreach around access to health care and eligibility assistance. The Promotora project (funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation) was designed to bring together both elements. In addition, health navigators (Promotoras) are connected and trained by our Health Specialist and Health Educator. These individuals already act as advocates, are knowledgeable of the system, availability of benefits, and how to problem solve issues related to coverage by Medicaid, Basic Health and citizenship issues.

  • Children's Health Initiative

    The Promotores program extends the ability of the Application Workers and Health Educators on the Access and Outreach team, as the promotores have a unique ability to reach into their networks of friends, family, neighbors and deliver information from a trusted source. Although many of our staff are bilingual and bicultural, their education level and the fact that they are government employees can sometimes create additional barriers for segments of the community. The Promotores' ability to engage portions of the community who have additional barriers allows the Access and Outreach team to serve not simply more clients, but the hardest to serve clients with significant language, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic barriers to healthcare—which helps to address health disparities.
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