In the initial three-year phase, Lideres de Salud partnered with three community-based organizations serving Latinos in the county: 1) St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Fuquay Varina; 2) Urban Ministries Open Door Clinic; and 3) the Circle of Hispanic Ministries of the Raleigh District of the United Methodist Church.  The program trained a total of 90 promotores, who committed to participating in the program for a year.  Promotores participated in an 8-week intensive popular education-based training and then in monthly meetings on health promotion and disease prevention.

Promotores committed to: 

1) Disseminating health information to Latino families throughout Wake County; and 2) Supporting local health fairs to promote disease prevention and to link Latino families to health resources in the county. 

Over 15 promotores trained in previous years continue working as volunteers for the program. 

Thanks to the success of the program and to the engagement of our group of promotores, Lideres de Salud was re-funded in July 2007 for 2-1/2 years.  In Phase II, Lideres de Salud continues to work to improve the health of Latino children in the county by training promotores de salud at two of three partner sites and by working to improve communication between health care providers and administrators and the Latino communities in the county.  

Lay Health Advisor Model

To learn more about the lay health advisor model, check out the following:

• NCLR at www.nclr.org
• New Mexico Border Health at www.nmsu.edu/~bho/bho/cha.html
• Bishop, C. M., Earp, J. A., Eng, E., and Lynch, K. (2002). “Implementing a ‘natural helper’ lay health advisor program: Lessons learned from unplanned events.” Special Issue, Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Mapping a Course for Community Action and Research. Health Promotion Practice. 3: 233-244.
• Eng, E. and Young, R. (1992). “Lay health advisors as community change agents.” Journal of Family and Community Health. 15: 24-40.

Funders: John Rex Endowment

John Rex Endowment has provided funding for Líderes de Salud for three years (ending in February 2007). To learn more about the John Rex Endomwment, check out their website at www.rexendowment.org.

Partner Agencies

Through this grant, El Pueblo is working closely with two Wake County community-based organizations (partners) to recruit, train and provide technical assistance to a total of 30 promotores per year. We are excited to be collaborating with these three wonderful partners:

1. Urban Ministries’ Open Door Clinic. To learn more about UMODC, check out their website at www.urbanmin.org.
2. St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Fuquay Varina. To learn more about this church, check out their website at http://st-bernadettechurch.org.

Community Advisory Committee

El Pueblo has convened a group of Wake County professional experts working in Latino health to offer recommendations and to strategize on how best to serve the community. This group will provide oversight, evaluation, monitoring, and guidance to project staff. For a list of Community Advisory Committee members, contact florence@elpueblo.org.

Events and Trainings

• Late August: Promotores Orientation at each Partner Site
• September 9th and 10th: Líderes de Salud booth at the Health and Public Safety Fair at Fiesta del Pueblo, NC State Fairgrounds
• Nov. 17th, 2006: Graduation of Year 3 Promotores