Access to Diabetes Self-Management Education in Disparate Communities in Austin, TX Estephanie Olivares, HHSD Program Coordinator Philip Huang, MD, MPH and Sarah Seidel, DrPH Results Program data was collected and analyzed for four Demonstration Years (DY). The Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID) was used as an evaluation tool to measure quality of life improvement among participants with diabetes. The PAID score measures diabetes related emotional distress, positively associated with HbA1c and short and long term diabetic complications. This tool has been researched for validity, being used in more than 60 scientific papers, and sensitivity in being able to measure changes following educational interventions. Total questioner is 20 questions, low literacy and takes about 5 minutes to complete. A total of 347 community members was served, 162 of whom had diabetes. Data for DY4 demonstrate improvement in three important health behaviors: 44% increase in number of days per week participants engaged in physical activity, 22% decrease in the number of sugar sweetened beverages consumed per day, More than doubling of the number of days per week that food portions were measured. Participants in the program also reported improved diabetes-related quality of life as evidenced by an average 55% decrease of Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID) scores across the Demonstration Years. Background The Community Diabetes Initiative was created to address significant racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among African- American and Hispanic Travis County residents by increasing access to culturally appropriate diabetes self-management education through group support-based classes led by certified community health workers. Why Community Health Workers Methods Share cultural, economic and linguistic characteristics with the individuals they work with Cultural competency Ability to build trust CHW interventions have shown improvements in glycemic control Evidence of cost effectiveness Effectiveness in medically underserved communities Classes utilize the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program Curriculum (DEEP), an evidence-based curriculum delivered as a series of six 90-minute classes in either English or Spanish. Weekly lessons in diabetes management include monitoring, medication, exercise and nutrition, preventing complications and managing stress and depression. Lessons provide take- home tools for engagement and retention of learned knowledge. Classes are offered in community-based locations, such as neighborhood centers, schools, faith-based organizations and clinics and are open and free of cost to the public. Lessons Learned External barriers on behalf of the participant can make it difficult in attending classes such as lack of transportation, child care, and scheduling. Program changes included providing free bus passes, child care as needed, and evening classes to address these barriers. Conclusion The community health worker model is an effective model for improving diabetes self-management behaviors and diabetes related quality of life among these two populations. Expansion The Community Diabetes Initiative is planning to expand program impact by including one month follow-up meets with participants with diabetes led by CHWs. An expansion of the CHW role will also include patient navigation in community resources for participants.