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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Debra Ellen Bill, MPH, PhD, Department of Health, West Chester University, Department of Health, West Chester, PA 19383-2515, 610 436-6941, dbill@wcupa.edu
Purpose: West Chester University (WCU), Department of Health located in West Chester, PA and the University of Guanajuato located in Guanajuato Mexico are collaborating on strategies to improve the health of Mexicans in Chester County, PA through cultural immersion trips to Guanajuato. Since the late 1970's increasing numbers of Mexicans migrate to Chester County mainly to work in the mushroom industry. Students interested in health and health professionals are invited to enroll in a cultural immersion trip to Guanajuato Mexico. The course is taught by two professors from WCU. The intent of the summer immersion field trip is to help participants better understand the meaning of health and illness in Mexico, and the way health services are delivered in order to increase the participants' skills in providing culturally competent health care to Latinos. The syllabi and activities for the course will be presented. Students visit health care facilities, traditional healers and other service agencies in the state of Guanajuato. Upon completion of the trip participants complete a community health action plan to better meet the health needs of Mexicans in Chester County. Participants showcase their projects at a symposium offered at WCU. Examples of action plans that improve Latino health will be presented in the hopes that this model can be used in other settings to better serve Latino communities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Latino Health, Cultural Competency
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.