The nurse-community health advocate team for urban immigrant primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
To describe: (a) development and implementation of an urban outreach health program for Latino immigrants; (b) nurse-community-health advocate (CHA) partnership roles in primary health care delivery, and (c) lessons learned from these activities over 7 years in urban community settings.


METHODS
Descriptive study of a community-based health project in a large Midwestern American city. Information was gathered from participants and staff, from observing staff, and from a variety of sources to describe the program and its individual, family, and community effects.


RESULTS
Major findings pertain to the project team's ability to address the health promotion needs of Latino immigrant families and to successfully incorporate CHAs in planning and implementing the program. CHAs were a "bridge" between health programs and the community, promoting cultural sensitivity. CHAs and nurses provided a range of services including health education and promotion, outreach through home visits, assessment of family needs for referrals to appropriate resources, and follow-up support.


CONCLUSIONS
The nurse-CHA team was an effective strategy for promoting Latino immigrant families' access to needed health care. This framework allowed for flexibility in assisting clients of different cultural backgrounds to obtain appropriate health care.
McElmurry
Beverly J
BJ
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen Ave., Room 1126, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. mcelmurr@uic.edu
Park
Chang Gi
CG
Buseh
Aaron G
AG
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D015146:Midwestern United States; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*