"Health Care, Equity and Access: Promotora Programs in Latina Populations"

In communities which experience barriers to accessing health care, non-traditional approaches can provide new avenues to care and residual benefits of community empowerment. In recent years, "promotora," or lay health educator programs, have received national attention for their work in expanding health service access for the (Spanish speaking) Latino/a community. These programs utilize existing social networks in the recruitment of informal leaders, often women, who are trained to do health education outreach in their own communities. This paper will examine two promotora programs to explore the reasons for their development, and the role they play in 1) increasing positive health outcomes and 2) fostering community empowerment. The fiscal impact of these programs will also be considered. Promotora programs may signal an effective direction for health care providers and community leaders in improving both health and civic involvement.

The research paper allows for better understanding of the work-first approach of the current U.S. welfare state. Also, the work has allowed for the opportunity to discuss various effects of the Federal Welfare Reform Legislation, focusing on the positive and negative aspects of declining numbers, women and access to post secondary education and women’s over all experiences in the labor market.