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Community-Informed Policy to Improve Latinx Health Outcomes in North Carolina (2023-2024)

Building on the work of previous teams, this project team sought to identify community-informed policy solutions to increase health equity and improve the responsiveness of the local health system for Latinx communities.

Its approach is to integrate community-engaged research and policy analysis, mirroring the strategies of the Latinx Advocacy Team and Interdisciplinary Network for COVID-19 (LATIN-19), a coalition of community, academic, healthcare and policy stakeholders that aims to bridge the health equity gap in Durham and statewide. Key strategies include elevating community voices to account for community priorities, strengthening meaningful community partnerships and creating care delivery models that reach people where they are.

In 2023-2024, the team conducted a qualitative analysis of focus groups of community health workers with questions concerning barriers and facilitators to insurance enrollment in Latinx communities and gaps in current educational materials. The team presented their findings at the Social Mission Alliance Conference (Durham, April 2024) and Academy Health’s Annual Research Meeting (Baltimore, July 2024).

The team is finalizing a manuscript, community brief and policy brief related to this research. Additionally, one team member is developing a toolkit for adaptation and dissemination of educational materials to other marginalized or minoritized populations.

Timing

Summer 2023 – Summer 2024

Team Outputs

Conference presentations

Policy paper

Research article in progress

Bilingual community briefs

Community-Centered Solutions to Increase Enrollment among la Comunidad Latina in North Carolina (Poster presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

Community-Informed Policy to Improve Latinx Health Outcomes in North Carolina (Lightning talk by Casey Brown and Rohan Gupta at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

See earlier related team, Bridging the Health Equity Gap for COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Durham (2021-2022).

 

Image: LATIN-19 logo

Team Leaders

  • Gabriela Plasencia, School of Medicine: Family Medicine and Community Health
  • Andrea Thoumi, Margolis Center for Health Policy

Graduate Team Members

  • Estefania Rodriguez Martinez, MIDP 2 Year Masters

Undergraduate Team Members

  • Casey Brown, Int Comparative Studies (AB)
  • Nikhil Chaudhry, Neuroscience (BS); Global Health (AB2)
  • Rohan Gupta, Economics (AB); Psychology (BS)
  • Mya Harris, Psychology (BS)
  • Sara Valencia, Neuroscience (AB)

Community Organizations

  • Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
  • El Centro Hispano, Durham
  • Latino Community Credit Union
  • LILA Latinx LGBTQ Initiative
  • Iglesia La Semilla

Team Contributors

  • Rushina Cholera, Margolis Center for Health Policy, School of Medicine: Pediatrics, School of Medicine: Pediatrics: Primary Care Pediatrics, School of Medicine: Population Health Sciences
  • Irene Felsman, School of Nursing
  • Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, School of Nursing
  • Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, School of Medicine: Family Medicine and Community Health

Themes