ANSWER
### Part 2: Advocacy for Populations Considering Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) #### **1. Identify the community population. The demographic I will advocate for consists of low-income Hispanic families within my community. The population exhibits the following key characteristics: – **Age Range**: Mainly adults in the working age group (25-50) who have young children. – **Language**: Mainly Spanish-speaking, with restricted English proficiency. – **Culture**: Significant focus on familial structures, adherence to traditional dietary practices, and a preference for culturally competent healthcare. – **Examples**: A considerable segment of this population experiences limited access to consistent healthcare, attributable to financial and language barriers, frequently depending on emergency services rather than preventive care. —2. Population Needs According to Social Determinants of Health The population encounters difficulties related to various social determinants of health. – **Economic Stability**: A significant number of individuals are employed in low-wage positions that lack health insurance and paid leave benefits. Families frequently avoid seeking medical care due to the inability to cover out-of-pocket expenses. – **Healthcare Access and Quality**: There is a limited availability of providers who speak Spanish and offer culturally appropriate services. – *Example*: Prolonged wait times at the community health center discourage families from pursuing care. – **Education**: Limited health literacy restricts individuals’ capacity to effectively navigate healthcare systems. Misinterpretation of prescriptions or treatment plans results in adverse health outcomes. —3. Resources for Addressing Needs 1. **Community Health Center**: – *Rationale*: Offers affordable or complimentary primary care services, featuring bilingual personnel to assist Spanish-speaking patients. – *Example*: Preventive services that are accessible, such as immunizations. 2. **Food Bank with Nutrition Education Program**: – *Rationale*: This initiative targets food insecurity while providing families with knowledge on healthier and cost-effective dietary options. – *Example*: Weekly food distribution accompanied by culturally tailored nutrition workshops. 3. **Local Housing Assistance Program**: – *Rationale*: Facilitates access to affordable housing for families, enhancing stability and alleviating stress. – *Example*: Assistance with rental payments for families at risk of eviction. —4. Critical Information for Resource Access 1. Community Health Center: Location: Main Street; operating hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday–Friday. – Materials available in Spanish and English. – Special Services: Fees adjusted according to income levels. 2. **Food Bank**: Location: Central Community Hall, operational on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. – Multilingual resources: Bilingual personnel and Spanish-speaking volunteers. – Complimentary Resources: Nutritional guides and recipe booklets. 3. Housing Assistance Program: – Online Portal: Applications are accessible in Spanish. – In-person assistance is provided by staff at the municipal office during business hours. – Special Services: Counseling for tenants experiencing eviction. —5. Missing Resource: A free community mental health program represents a significant gap in available resources. Mental health services specifically designed for this population are scarce, particularly those that include bilingual therapists. Mental health is a critical issue, as stress, depression, and anxiety frequently arise from financial difficulties and acculturation challenges. —Recommendations for Enhancing Services 1. Extend the hours of the community health center to include evenings and weekends, facilitating access for individuals with nontraditional work schedules. Integrate mental health services into the food bank’s offerings by providing on-site counseling or referrals. 3. Enhance outreach and awareness initiatives for housing assistance to engage undocumented families who may be apprehensive about utilizing these services. — Section 3: Engaging the Population #### **1. Strategies for Population Engagement – Community Events: Establish information booths at church gatherings or cultural festivals frequented by Hispanic families. – **Social Media Outreach**: Utilize platforms such as Facebook to disseminate bilingual posts regarding available resources. – *Example*: Produce brief videos featuring testimonials from community members who have gained advantages from these services. – **Community Leaders**: Collaborate with church leaders or local Hispanic organizations to share resource information. Leaders may disseminate flyers following religious services or community meetings. —2. Objectives for Enhancing Health Outcomes 1. Enhance Healthcare Accessibility: Ensure that all families are informed about and utilize the community health center for preventive care. 2. **Mitigate Food Insecurity**: Guarantee that families maintain reliable access to nutritious and culturally suitable foods. 3. **Enhance Housing Stability**: Facilitate access to resources that mitigate homelessness and alleviate stress, thereby promoting mental and physical well-being. Targeted resources and outreach strategies can significantly enhance the health and well-being of low-income Hispanic families in our community.
QUESTION
Pre-Assessment, respond to the following prompts. These prompts match those in your Final Assessment. Prompts: Part 2: Advocating for a Population Based on Social Determinants of Health
1. Identify the population in your community for which you will advocate. Describe key characteristics of this population (e.g., age, language, culture). Be specific with examples.
1. Identify the population’s needs based on the social determinants of health (SDoH). Include examples to explain these needs.
1. Identify three (3) resources (i.e., organizations and services) in your community that you would recommend to this population to address specific needs, as well as improve health and well-being as defined by the SDoH. Explain your rationale for selecting each resource.
1. Describe essential information the population would need to access and benefit from each resource (e.g., location, hours, languages spoken/multi-lingual materials available, special services, free services/materials, online links).
1. Identify at least one example of a missing resource that is needed by the population and why.
1. Explain recommendations for expanding or strengthening existing services to meet particular needs better.
Part 3: Reaching the Population
1. Describe strategies for reaching the population with the community resource information you identified and that align with the characteristics and preferences of this population. Be specific with examples.
1. Based on your advocacy plan, identify goals for improving health outcomes for this population.
Once you submit your responses, assess yourself using the rubric provided. Use your Pre-Assessment submission and any feedback you may garner to improve and refine your responses.
Use the following rubric to assess your response to the prompts: