Reaching Out To Hispanic/Latino Populations Strategies for Facilitating Healthcare Access

Health care disparities --a population-specific difference in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to care.

Health disparities can be based on -- Race/ethnicity –Language Gender Age Income Insurance status Rural /urban location Sexual orientation Housing status Occupation Heath behaviors.

Changing World Kentucky’ s Latino / Hispanic population by census count has increased by 167% form 1990 to This is represents an undercount. Majority of KY’s Latino/Hispanic population is from Mexico. Often employed in the horse industry, tobacco, construction, and as domestic workers in hotels, restaurants

Barriers to Health care and Services  Language- 7 years to become fluent  Lack of bilingual professionals  Availability of adult English Second Language courses  Continuous movement of population  Fear  Cultural Differences  Cost

Policy and Vulnerability Often the Hispanic/Latino population has little or no voice Often not counted in the census Not registered to vote Cannot contribute to campaign coffers Fearful of raising their voice

Strategies for Facilitating Access  Training interpreters.  Coalitions  Outreach  Empowerment  Advocacy Bridge The Gap -training for interpreters.

Strategies To Facilitate Access Coalitions  Organize people and resources  Stop duplication  Develop Spanish language classes Outreach  Use existing resources  Bilingual/bicultural staff person  Become involved in the community Empowerment  Promote ESL classes  Use available resources  Educate about available resources  Provide information in Native language in bilingual format