Gainesville Community Health Fair

Hispanic Medical Student Association (HAMSA) UFCOM
Chamber of Hispanic Affairs—Health Awareness Outreach Project

Rationale: The Latino population of Gainesville is composed of diffuse communities that are geographically dispersed throughout Alachua county. In general, the Gainesville Latino population has been marginalized and suffers greatly from a lack of representation and education. Latino communities exist within churches, among migrant workers, and at the University of Florida. Recent census figures indicate that Hispanic or Latinos make up 6.4% (6,112) of the Gainesville population, mainly Cuban and Puerto Rican. Latinos make up 5.7% of Alachua county’s population. There is growing concern that the Latino community of Alachua county represents a terribly underserved segment of the population with respect to health promotion and health care services. To address this concern, HAMSA and UFCOM in conjunction with CHA, plans to implement a series of ‘community health fairs’ targeting the various Latino communities. At the present time, there is very little, if any at all, health outreach to these communities from these institutions. These ‘health fairs’ will begin to fill this void by bringing culturally sensitive information about health care resources into the community itself.

General Alachua County Information (http://www.co.alachua.fl.us/)
Clerk of the Court- Alachua Country (http://www.clerk-alachua-fl.org/archive/default.cfm)
Census Bureau Search Engine (http://factfinder.census.gov/)

Goals:
1.) To provide the Latino community with health promotion/prevention information
2.) To provide the Latino community with contact information for local health resources
3.) Foster awareness about the health problems that particularly affect the Latino community
4.) Collect baseline demographic and health information on the Latino communities of Gainesville and Alachua county

Structure: The ‘health fair’ scheme will be based in churches that are found to be suitable and representative of their community. This plan relies on both the low cost of using church facilities and volunteers, as well as the fact that among the different Latino communities, a large number of families can be found in church every Sunday. In addition, this scheme brings the education and resources to the community, as opposed to a one time larger event, for example, in Downtown Gainesville. One advantage to this scheme is that individuals and families will not have to travel out of their way to come in contact with the ‘health fair’ thereby increasing their odds of attending. In order to ensure that we contact this diffuse population, we will strategically develop a schedule to include a rotation of the different churches (which represent the different communities in need). We will focus on the communities with the greatest ‘health’ needs and with the least access to care. The use of churches in this ‘health fair’ scheme is not religious or faith-based so much as it is to strengthen the nature of the community.

The first of these ‘health fairs’ will be planned for the Spring of 2003 (March-April). In the future, however, they will be planned to occur with more frequency—in different locations and in different communities. The selection order of the different locations will be guided by feasibility and access to different segments of the Latino community.

Elements: This ‘health fair’ expects to capture church-going families (both adults and children) as they are leaving church on Sunday afternoon. The event will be promoted within the congregation prior to the date.

Churches:

* San Augustin, University Ave.
* Queen of Peace, SW 24th Ave.
* Centro Cristiano Latin American Getsamni, NW 14th St. (Reverend Rojas)
* Iglesia Evangelica Bautista, 700 NW 40th Ave
* Torre Fuere, Tower Dr. and 24th Ave.
* Iglesia Casa Del Alfarero, N. 441 and 135th Terr in Alachua (Pastor Fabian)
* other churches in Bronson, Chiefland, Williston, and Archer

Activities:

* Blood Pressure Screening: Student volunteers will take blood pressures for adults and children and provide the reading on a piece of paper ‘for their records’. They will discuss the results briefly and be given information about hypertension and prevention in Spanish (American Red Cross pamphlets).

* Glucose Screening: Student volunteers will do a finger stick and take a blood glucose reading (glucose monitors can be borrowed). The result would be recorded on a piece of paper ‘for their records’. They will discuss the results briefly and be given information about diabetes and prevention in Spanish. If they have a suspicious reading they would be given appropriate clinical follow-up information.

* Depression Screening: Student volunteers (collaboration with the Psychiatry Interest Group) would provide a quick screening for depression by asking a series of questions to an individual in Spanish. If the individual answers ‘yes’ to more than an expected number, then the proper information about depression, signs, treatment, and access to care will be provided in Spanish.

* Vision/Eye Screening: Student volunteers can assess adults and children who may suspect they are having vision problems (i.e. headaches, etc.). Ophthalmic exams can be performed on the spot as well.

* Skin Assessment: Student volunteers will assess suspicious skin lesions pointed out by an individual. People will be educated on skin care, high-risk behavior under the sun, and skin cancer. Educational information would be provided in addition to some free sun screen (donated…).

* Flu Shots: Vaccine can be donated to the event and student volunteers can be trained to administer shots. This may be most practical for next year’s ‘health fair’ that would take place in late October/early November when the vaccination is most appropriate.

* Dental Screening: In collaboration with the Hispanic Dental Student Association (HDSA), a variety of different oral screening/exams can be performed. In addition, all should walk away with some free oral hygiene products (donated).

*“We Care” Insurance Sign-up’s: Student volunteers (collaboration with Pediatric Interest Group and AMA) will work with/be trained by hospital staff who understand “We Care” eligibility requirements and can explain them to people in Spanish. Those individuals with children who qualify for “We Care” can be enrolled on the spot, while those who do not qualify would be given information about where and how to receive (bi-lingual)—

* Equal Access Clinic: This ‘health fair’ would be an opportunity to promote the availability, location, and services of EAC. We would stress that bi-lingual care is provided at EAC and HAMSA would begin to commit a Spanish speaking member to clinic each week. This is a prime marketing opportunity for EAC within the underserved Hispanic community.

* Educational Seminars: This would include health promotion and education sessions with UF faculty who can present the information in Spanish to an audience. An informal gathering that can be scheduled at different times (i.e. 1pm- Diabetes, 2pm- Nutrition, 3pm- Breastfeeding, etc.) with 30 minutes of ‘lecture’ with ample time for people to ask their questions after. Snacks and drinks would be available to encourage participation, in addition, to a place for children to play and allow adults to attend the session. There is the potential to have a panel (i.e. Prenatal, that would include OB/GYN, Peds, Nutrition, etc.)

* Surveys: This would provide the project with baseline demographic information about the Latino community that attended the ‘health fair’ in addition to questions about where they get their health care and whether or not they have insurance. In addition, it would be a form of program evaluation to find out whether our approach to the communities needs through a ‘health fair’ was adequate and if deficient, how can we better address their needs. This will enable the program to evolve and improve each time.

* Migrant Worker Outreach:

Other Activities:
* Food
* Music
* Dancing
* Inflatable ‘spacewalk’ for children to playPotential Collaborators:
* UF College of Dentistry (HDSA)
* UF College of Law (SALSA)
* Equal Access Clinic (UFCOM)
* La Casita (Undergraduate)
* HABLA (Undergraduate Translation Group)
* HGSA (Graduate)
* Latino Fraternities/Sororities
* Corporate Sponsors

Constitution :: Foundation Statement :: Officers :: Current Events :: Photo Gallery :: UF Latino Links :: NNLAMS :: HAMSA Home