Bridging the digital divide by increasing computer and cancer literacy: community technology centers for head-start parents and families.
This article describes the establishment of two community technology centers affiliated with Head Start early childhood education programs focused especially on Latino and African American parents of children enrolled in Head Start. A 6-hour course concerned with computer and cancer literacy was presented to 120 parents and other community residents who earned a free, refurbished, Internet-ready computer after completing the program. Focus groups provided the basis for designing the structure and content of the course and modifying it during the project period. An outcomes-based assessment comparing program participants with 70 nonparticipants at baseline, immediately after the course ended, and 3 months later suggested that the program increased knowledge about computers and their use, knowledge about cancer and its prevention, and computer use including health information-seeking via the Internet. The creation of community computer technology centers requires the availability of secure space, capacity of a community partner to oversee project implementation, and resources of this partner to ensure sustainability beyond core funding.
Health, Emotion, and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8205, USA. peter.salovey@yale.edu
Peter
P
Salovey
Pamela
P
Williams-Piehota
Linda
L
Mowad
Marta Elisa
ME
Moret
Denielle
D
Edlund
Judith
J
Andersen
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D003197:Computer Literacy; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D055815:Young Adult