The North Carolina Hispanic/Latino
Lay Health Initiative
Barbara Garland
August 2006
Background
North Carolina Institute of Medicine
2003 Latino Health Report
The Hispanic Health Task Force,
Office of Minority Health and Health
Disparities, NCDHHS
Hispanic/Latino Lay Health Advisor
Development Team
NC Institute of Medicine Findings
Major impediments to Latino health and
healthcare are:
•Unfamiliarity with health care system;
•Ineffective interaction with healthcare
providers and vise versa;
NC Institute of Medicine Findings, (cont.)
• Lack of health literacy
• Differing cultural beliefs and practices
• Communication barriers
NCIM Recommendations
That the NCDHHS take the lead in convening a lay
health advisor development group to:
• Develop training for Latino lay health advisors
• Identify funding sources for programs in counties
with large concentrations of Latino residents
Structure Building for a LHA
Program
Establishing essential structures and processes
for supporting LHA programs at state and local
levels:
The Program Coordinator
• Importance, roles, qualifications,
time required.
Structure Building for a LHA
Program (CONT.)
The Structure
• Elements:
Leadership, mission statement,
committees, decision making
• Lay health advisors:
Natural abilities, skills, niche,
team building
Latino Lay Health Advisor
Curriculum for LHA Trainers
Train-the-trainer curriculum for program managers
Each chapter includes:
• A lesson outline with learning objectives, an
overview, key points, time needed and references
• Support materials
• Suggestions for presenting the material in a
culturally appropriate manner
LHA Trainer’s Curriculum Content
Sessions:
1. Hispanics/Latinos in North Carolina
2. Promoting Health in NC
3. LHA Models that Work
4. Starting a LHA Program in your community
LHA Trainer’s Curriculum Content
(cont.)
5. Preparing for a Lay Health Advisor Program
6. Using the LHA Curriculum
7. Supporting and Maintaining a LHA program
8. Evaluating a Lay Health Advisor Program
The Health Modules for LHAs
Health modules contain specific health and healthrelated information including:
• Overview of issue affecting Hispanic/Latino
population in NC
• Key points/messages to be shared with
Hispanic/Latino community members
The Health Modules for LHAs, (Cont.)
• Suggested activities, educational methods
• Suggested evaluation questions to determine
learning
• Resources for community members
LHA Health Module Topics
• Chronic Diseases
• Injury Prevention
• Reproductive Health
• Child Health
• Communicable Diseases
• Mental Health
Desired Outcomes of Latino Lay
Health Advisor Initiative
• State and local agency leadership
and accountability
• Clearly defined roles of state and
community partners
• Support for Lay Health Advisors in the
form of technical assistance, materials
and resources
Desired Outcomes of Lay Health
Advisor Initiative, (cont)
• Hispanic/Latino Lay health Advisor
programs with defined goals, objectives
and outcomes
• Participatory evaluation
• Improved health outcomes in the targeted
communities