Salud Para Su Corazon-NCLR: a comprehensive Promotora outreach program to promote heart-healthy behaviors among hispanics.
This article describes results of year-1 implementation of the Salud Para Su Corazón (Health For Your Heart)-National Council of la Raza (NCLR) promotora (lay health worker) program for promoting heart-healthy behaviors among Latinos. Findings of this community outreach initiative include data from promotora pledges and self-skill behaviors, cardiovascular disease risk factors of Latino families, family heart-health education delivery, and program costs associated with promotora time. Participation included 29 trained promotoras serving 188 families from three NCLR affiliates in Escondido, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Ojo Caliente, New Mexico. Using several evaluation tools, the results showed that the promotora approach worked based on evidence obtained from the following indicators: changes in promotora's pre-post knowledge and performance skills, progress toward their pledge goals following training, recruiting and teaching families, providing follow-up, and organizing or participating in community events. Strengths and limitations of the promotora model approach are also discussed.
Balcazar
Hector
H
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health, El Paso Regional Campus at Houston, USA.
Alvarado
Matilde
M
Hollen
Mary Luna
ML
Gonzalez-Cruz
Yanira
Y
Hughes
Odelinda
O
Vazquez
Esperanza
E
Lykens
Kristine
K
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States