Latinos are the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. and are expected
to be 25% of the population by the year 2050. Latinos also are more vulnerable and
at higher risk for poor health outcomes including diabetes and other chronic health
ailments than Anglos. Many of the serious effects of these diseases can be
ameliorated with changes in diet and life style. These changes are difficult for
ethnic minority populations who lack access to culturally sensitive health and
nutrition education.
Several innovative and culturally competent programs have been initiated to
provide preventative health education to high risk Latinos. Las Comidas Latinas
(The Spanish Meals) was developed to teach health and food safety to Latino
families as part of a federally funded education program for low income, Food
Stamp eligible families.
The ecological model was utilized to examine the microsystem,
mesosystems, exosystem, and macrosystem processes and changes that underlie the
development and implementation of a culturally competent program. What
characterized the relationships between and among program staff, other agency
partners, and participants? And what organizational processes contributed to the
development and success of this culturally competent program?
Interviews with participants, staff members at the state, county, supervisory
and direct service levels and partner agencies indicated that participants in Las
Comidas Latinas reported warm and caring relationships that contributed to
positive health and social gains for themselves and their children. Organizational
factors at the macro, intermediate, and individual levels such as a positive view of
diversity, environmental and political factors, policy changes, and involvement of
Latino community leaders contributed to successful program development and
implementation.
Two major categories of recommendations have emerged for the field and
other service programs: attending to cultural norms and enacting flexible
organizational policies. Key findings in cultural relevance include: create a
bilingual and bicultural workforce, promote a safe and welcoming environment,
hire program paraprofessionals for their cultural knowledge, and seek information
about the community to be served. Organizational recommendations are to persist
in approaching the target community to be served, provide "space" for innovation,
and recognize and value unexpected social benefits. Future research suggestions are
included. / Graduation date: 2005
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/29870 |
| Date | 03 December 2004 |
| Creators | Hernandez, Rebecca |
| Contributors | Bowman, Sally |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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