Program Areas
Program Areas
Latino Health
Latinos constitute the fastest growing minority group in the United States, and many members of the Latino community face significant health challenges. For example, Latinos lose more potential years of life than non-Latinos to stroke, liver disease and cirrhosis, HIV and certain types of cancer. What is more, Latinos are more likely than non-Latinos to be overweight or obese and to fail to receive full vaccination or adequate prenatal care. Contributing factors to these health challenges include language and cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and lack of health insurance.
The KDHRC Latino Health program area seeks to understand and address the unique health risks of Latino families and communities. More specifically, our projects explore optimal methods for community-based organizations to deliver health education to Latinos, approaches to bridge Latino families with formalized medical systems, and ways to decrease barriers to health care in this vulnerable population.
Current Initiatives
En Familia: An intergenerational approach to improving health literacy among and delivering health education to Latino families.
With funding from the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, KDHRC is developing En Familia/In the Family, an intergenerational health literacy and health education program for Latino families. Read More
Familias Fuertes/Strong Families: Helping Latino families with a child coping with cancer
With funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), KDHRC is developing Familias Fuertes, a culturally relevant outreach program to provide education and support for Latino families coping with two different health situations: Latino families with a child diagnosed with pediatric cancer, and Latino families with a child who has a parent, caregiver, or other close family member with cancer. Read More
Key Staff
Publications
Research Briefs
An intergenerational approach to improve the health literacy skills of Latino families
Louise C. Palmer, Eric C.Twombly, Kristen D. Holtz, & Kimberly Stringer, KDHRC
October 2011: Number 8
(Download PDF)
Identifying and overcoming challenges to the effective implementation of promotores programs by community-based nonprofit organizations
Eric C.Twombly, Kristen D. Holtz, Kimberly Stringer, & Louise C. Palmer, KDHRC
September 2011: Number 7
(Download PDF)