Reaching the Latino Community – A Community Based Approach
Health disparities disproportionately affect minority populations, unfortunately this hold the truth for behavioral health as well.
Among the Latinos with mental health disorders, fewer than one in 11 contacts a mental health specialist, while fewer than one in five contacts a general health provider. In addition, among Latino immigrants with mental disorders, than one in 20 uses services from a mental health specialist, while less than one in 10 uses services from general health provider.
Magellan has spread headed efforts to reach minority population via community developers who direct outreach and education efforts that are culturally appropriate. Because the Latino population is made up of several diverse cultures, outreach efforts have been designed to have a far-reaching, multi-pronged approach – from grass-roots to grass-tips in English and Spanish and delivered where these minorities organically meet- as part of coordinated Latino initiative.
In total Magellan’s outreach efforts reached more than 111,000 Latino individuals – an average of 87 per day. That outreach has made a difference , increasing the penetration rate of Latinos from 6.1% in 2008 to 11.1% in 2010. To help address this growing population< Magellan also increased funding for providers who serve communities of color from $17.5 million in FY08 to $50.1 million in FY11.
Reaching first-line supports
Within the Latino culture, first-line support systems include parents, family and friends as well as older family members.With this in mind, Magellan has conducted outreach and education efforts to completely blanket the community, disseminating information through:
- Community health fairs and cultural events
- Schools and parent support groups
- Pediatrician and general practitioner offices
- Local Latino-owned businesses
- Mexican and Guatemaian Consulate office programs and events
- Television, radio and Internet program
Promotora Model
Additionally, by employing a nationally -recognized best practice model, the Promotora or community health worker approach, Magellan has reached hundreds of families through their first line support systems. Since July 2009 Magellan contacted with the Women’s Health Coalition Promotora program to help disseminate mental health and mental abuse information to the Latino community. Promotoras use a variety of methods to make contact with the communities they serve, from intimate gathering in individuals’ homes to large community meetings;they make direct contact with target audiences, conveying crucial information to provide community support.
“Working with Magellan on the Latino Initiative has been a true example of collaboration and partnership,” said Lonnie Rubio Jones, Director and founder of the Women’s Health Coalition.
Since the program’s inception, nearly 9,800 families have been contacted via one-on-one outreach efforts by the Promotoras, primarily Spanish-speaking families and individuals needing assistance to fill out AHCCCS eligibility paperwork. Through the end of 2010, the Promotoras here helped process nearly 5,700 AHCCCS application.
“After all, it’s not about us, it’s about our communities,” Rubio Jones added. “The investment we make together makes the healthier children, which is turn makes for healthier families.”
Originally, the program targeted Latino residents in the South Phoenix area with an emphasis in the 85040 Zip Code due to the area’s high concentration in Latino families eligible for mental health and substance abuse services that were not using them. Due to the success in 85040, Magellan expanded the Promotoras’ outreach in 2010 to the Maricopa Community.