Latino/a Families: How to Improve your Health and the Health of your Community

TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY

HEALTH WORKERS/HEALTH PROMOTERS

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

"Click Here for Spanish"

 

About the Project

The Latino Consumer Genetics Education Network (Latino CGEN) is part of a larger project, the Consumer Genetics Education Network (CGEN) project, which aims to increase genetics literacy for underserved populations. The Latino CGEN Project uses a community-based participatory approach to build community capacity and to increase awareness of genetics in the Latino community based on completed needs assessment conducted in the Washington Heights/Inwood, NY area.

 

This project is supported by grant U33MC00157 from the Health Resources and Service Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Genetic Services Branch to the March of Dimes Foundation

 

Our Unique Approach

Community Health Workers/Health Promoters and community stakeholders were at the forefront of developing and implementing the genetics education materials for the Latino CGEN Project. A diverse network of community-based health, and social service organizations and community residents participate in the program’s implementation, dissemination, evaluation and community capacity-building activities, making it one of the most innovative approaches to community education on genetics and health issues.

Back to top

 

About the CHW Training

Community Health Workers/Health Promoters have been trained using The Program Guide for Community Health Workers, which is a step-by-step guide to prepare for, and conduct the community workshop.

 

About the Community Workshop Materials

The materials used to conduct each community workshop are:

  • The Program Guide for Community Health Workers
  • One desk-top Flip Chart: Latino/a Families: How to improve your health and the health of your community
  • Participant Workbooks

 

About the Community Workshops

The project’s Community Workshop, Latino/a Families: How to improve your health and the health of your community(Spanish/English) is organized in two modules.

 

First Module: Genetics and the Environment

  • What is genetics?
  • How does genetics and the environment affect Latinos/as?
  • What are genetic conditions?
  • What are common health conditions amongst of Latinos/as?
  • What can you do to protect yourself, your kids and your grandkids?
  • Is it important for you to know your family health history?

 

Second Module: Healthy Pregnancy

  • What is a birth defect?
  • What are the most common birth defects?
  • What are some of the causes of birth defects?
  • Why is it important to know about birth defects?
  • How does a baby grow and develop before it is born?
  • What are the risk factors for birth defects?
  • What can you do to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby?

 

Addendum

Community Resource Guide: Genetic Services in the Community

  • Genetic Clinical Services
  • Health Resources
  • Advocacy/Educational Resources

For more information on the project or if you are interested in holding community workshops in your organization, feel free to call our Program Coordinator,

Claudia De la Cruz at 212.740.1929 

Back to top