title: Community Health Asset Mapping Partnership Engages Hispanic/Latino Health Seekers and Providers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Hispanic/Latino population in Forsyth County, North Carolina, is growing quickly and experiencing significant disparities in access to care and health outcomes. Assessing community perceptions and utilization of health care resources in order to improve health equity among Hispanics/Latinos at both the county and state levels is critical.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our community engagement process was guided by the Community Health Assets Mapping Partnerships (CHAMP) approach, which helps identify gaps in health care availability and areas for immediate action to improve access to and quality of health care. Specifically, we invited and encouraged the Hispanic/Latino population to participate in 4 different workshops conducted in Spanish or English. Participants were identified as either health care providers, defined as anyone who provides health care or a related service, or health care seekers, defined as anyone who utilizes such services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most commonly cited challenges to access to care were cost of health care, documentation status, lack of public transportation, racism, lack of care, lack of respect, and education/language. These data were utilized to drive continued engagement with the Hispanic community, and action steps were outlined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While participation in the workshops was acceptable, greater representation of health care seekers and community providers is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This process is fundamental to multilevel initiatives under way to develop trust and improve relationships between the Hispanic/Latino community and local health care entities in Forsyth County. Follow-through on recommended action steps will continue to further identify disparities, close gaps in care, and potentially impact local and state policies with regard to improving the health status of the Hispanic/Latino community.
authors.affiliation: assistant research professor, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina tcutts@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cutts
authors.affiliation: project manager, Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langdon
authors.affiliation: chaplain supervisor, Division of Faith and Health Ministries, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Francis Rivers
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Meza
authors.affiliation: research assistant, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hochwalt
authors.affiliation: associate professor, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pichardo-Geisinger
authors.affiliation: research volunteer, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sowell
authors.affiliation: chaplain resident, Division of Faith and Health Ministries, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: manager, Language Services, Office of Patient Experience, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Linda Batiz
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dorton
authors.affiliation: network coordinator, Center for Congregational Health, Division of Faith and Health Ministries, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kennett
authors.affiliation: chaplain for staff support, Division of Faith and Health Ministries, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina