The Surgeon General of the United States in 2003 documented the
existence of striking disparities for minorities and immigrants in mental health
services and the underlying knowledge base. This thesis expands the
knowledge base by examining the personal experiences and perspectives of
community health workers (CHWs) employed in a mental health project. CHW
interventions have been shown to increase access and reduce barriers to
health care services. CHWs come from similar cultural and ethnic
backgrounds as recipients of services and share similar life experiences. As
cultural mediators between ethnic communities and a primary health care
system, CHWs are able to provide valuable insight into immigrant mental
health disparities.
Through case study analysis, this thesis explores the personal
experiences of CHWs employed by a grant-funded mental health project.
Utilizing ethnographic research methods to better understand the CHW
intervention, this thesis focuses on CHW motivations, their challenges and the
impact of work on their personal lives. Results suggest that CHWs
experienced many positive changes in their own lives as a result of their work. CHWs are better able to address their own physical and mental health needs.
By increasing access to community and clinic services, CHWs help to improve
the mental and physical health status of clients. Results suggest that the
cultural competency of clinic staff, service providers and clients improved.
CHWs help to strengthen community bonding or social capital by expanding
social networks and empowering individuals to create change in their own
lives. / Graduation date: 2006
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/28362 |
| Date | 09 September 2005 |
| Creators | McNeil-Delaney, Oona D. |
| Contributors | Smith, Courtland |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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