Non-English Speaking Education and
Outreach: Partnering with Community
Based Organizations for Behavior Change
Charles Wu
Public Health-Seattle & King County
Local Hazardous Waste Management
Program in King County
King County LHWMP
Program Mission
To protect and enhance public health and
environmental quality in King County by
reducing the threat posed by the production,
use, storage and disposal of hazardous
materials.
What does Equity mean to you?
Partnering with the Community
Community Grants Program
A community participatory approach
that supports the community to develop
their own strategies to reduce risks and
promote sustainable results.
Community Grant Goal
From hierarchical and top down approach to
community participatory practice: engage, educate, partner, share
resources, build capacity
Gov’t and Institutions
Residents
Local health depts.
CBOs, community
groups
Community residents
Gov’t and
Institutions
Community
based Orgs and
Groups
Health Depts.
Why a community grant?
(as opposed to a “traditional” contract)
 Facilitates creation of a
partnership
 Two-way exchange of
information, resources and ideas
 Build both parties’ capacity
A Specific Community Grant:
Community-Directed Partnership
• Involving the
community at the
outset
• Promoted to over 60
community-based
groups
• Technical assistance in
applying for grant
The Community Partner
SOAR focuses on:
SOAR is a community
coalition working
together to promote the
healthy development of
children, youth, and
families in King County.
• Impacting families from
underserved, disconnected
communities
• Building community capacity
• Connecting communities to
multiple and complex support
systems.
Vetting the
plan and
getting
consensus
ACTING ON WHAT
WE HEARD
Asked 5
ethnic
groups their
preferences
ACTING ON WHAT
WE HEARD
COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS
Gathered
input from
community
leaders
ACTING ON WHAT
WE HEARD
PROJECT
PROMOTION
Community Engagement Process
Created a
plan based
on their
preferences
The
community
implements
the plan
The Community Voted
5 ethnic groups
2013
summary
10 community conversations
4 environmental health topics
80+ participants
100% provided input on the
direction of the project
Community Conversations
The results from 2013
Service Delivery:
WHAT WE WANT!
Another Example:
The Volunteer Training Network
“Opening Doors into
Communities”
The Promotora Model
Same
language
Community
member
Trusted
Same
culture
Promotora
Lay person
Based on the Promotora Model -- a Public Health community engagement model.
Developed for outreach into Hispanic communities.
Promotora means “one who promotes”
Capacity Building:
Preparing and Supporting the Volunteer Trainers
Train
“LHWMP College”
• LHWMP staff = “Professors”
• Develop LHWMP curriculums
• Certify ‘Graduates” as Volunteer
Trainers (includes background checks)
• Provide educational tools and
materials
• Program evaluation
Support
Field Logistics
• Recruit and train Promotoras
• Host “College” trainings
• Help Promotoras organize their
community
• Supply materials to Promotoras
• Receive input on materials and
curriculums
• Supply food at community trainings
Tools for the
Trainer
TEACHING KITS
 Maximize pictures and handson activities, minimize words
 Designed to meet the needs
of visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic learners
 Translated to multiple
languages
Components of a teaching kit:
• 11” x 17” posters
• “Touch” Box
• Demonstration Kit
Teaching Kits in
Action!
A Measure of “Reach”:
So far in 2014,
20 volunteer
trainers
taught
> 120
participants
Encouraging Behavior Change
• Participants receive
a “Takeaway Kit”
to practice what
they learned
• Safer Cleaning:
 Baking Soda
 Vinegar
 Bon Ami®
Scouring Powder
 Murphy Oil Soap
 Microfiber Cloth
 Spray Bottle
 DIY cleaning
product recipe
card
Behavior Change: A Measure of “Impact”
64% used the lead swab tester
Behavior change
69% changed their cleaning habits (90 days later)
What we’ve learned:
 Adaptive Management
 Learning as we go, adapting as needed
 Still learning…failing forward…don’t be afraid of making mistakes
 Partnerships requires careful and thoughtful relationship
building and maintenance
 But when done right, partnerships create sense of ownership, buy-
in, and commitment
Next Steps:
 Smaller grants, but reaching more nonprofits
 Formal evaluation plan
For more information:
Charles Wu, REHS, MBA
Charles.Wu@kingcounty.gov
(206)263-8534
Public Health-Seattle & King County,
Local Hazardous Waste
Management Program
All photos courtesy of www.lhwmp.org and www.facebook.com/lhwmp