ABSTRACT
The REACH Su Comunidad Consortium worked with 10 communities to address disparities in access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities among Hispanic populations through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies. Community health workers took leadership roles in the implementation of PSE strategies in partnership with local multisector coalitions. This article describes the role of community health workers in PSE change, the technical and professional development support provided to the REACH Su Comunidad Communities, and highlights professional development needs of community health workers engaging in PSE strategies.
Subject(s)
Community Health Workers/standards , Health Promotion/methods , Health Status Disparities , Hispanic or Latino , Social Change , Social Determinants of Health/economics , Community Health Workers/organization & administration , Community Health Workers/trends , Community-Institutional Relations , Environment Design , Exercise , Food Supply/economics , Food Supply/standards , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Humans , Leadership , Models, Organizational , Northwestern United States , Safety , Southwestern United StatesABSTRACT
This article examines the experience of a frontier-based community health center when it utilized the Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) for assessing social determinants of health with a local health consortium. Community members (N = 357) rated safety, jobs, housing, and education among the top health issues. Community leaders integrated these health priorities in a countywide strategic planning process. This example of a frontier county in New Mexico demonstrates the critical role that community health centers play when engaging with local residents to assess community health needs for strategic planning and policy development.
