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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jesus Sanchez, MS, Local Evaluator, DWDC, 900 West 190 th street 12M, New York City, NY 10040, 212 927-1123, jas6@columbia.edu, Andel Nicasio, BA, Latin@ CGEN-Project Coordinator, DWDC, 251 Fort Washington Ave. Suite # 1, New York City, NY 10032, Rosita Romero, MSW, Executive Director, DWDC, 519 West 189 Street, New York City, NY 10040, Nellie Rivera, MS, Community Health Alliance of Harlem and Northen Manhattan, Inc., 475 Riverside Drive, Room 249, New York City, NY 10115, Franklin Ortiz, MS, Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Avenue, New York City, NY 10040, and Miriam Canaan, BS, Healthy Schools Healthy Families, 251 Fort Washington Ave. Suite # 1, New York City, NY 10040.

The critical role played by bicultural, bilingual community health workers (CHW) in meeting the objectives of The Latin@ CGEN Project, a community-based participatory consumer genetics education initiative for the WH/I Latino community, is the focus of this abstract. As health information brokers, the CHWs serve as educators and advocates of genetic education. The impact of their involvement as well as the process of recruiting and training them will be discussed. The culturally specific educational curriculum designed by members of the Latin@ CGEN Project will be shared. The Latin@ CGEN is composed of a network of community leaders, faith based educators, and health and social service providers in the community. It is one of four projects funded by March of Dimes and HRSA to help increase genetic literacy among African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans communities. Through development, dissemination, and discussion of culturally and linguistically appropriate genetic education materials, programs and services, the Latin@ CGEN Project and its partners aim to spur and promote lifestyle changes that will reduce genetically-based health risks. Best practices, challenges and lessons learned will be presented.

This presentation will: 1) describe the role of CHW in promoting genetic literacy among Latinos in WH/I as well as advocating for their genetic health needs; 2) examine the development of a genetic health education curriculum for the Latino community, 3) review the impact of coalition-building in increasing awareness of genetics issues among community stakeholders.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be informed of
• 1 The role of CHW as educators and advocates for the genetic health needs of Latinos in WH/I;
• 2 The process of developing culturally specific genetic health education strategies and materials; and
• 3 The partnership of community health and social service providers, faith-based educators and other stakeholders in advancing genetic literacy.

Keywords: Genetics, Community Health Promoters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation