An Overview of the Charleston PASOs Program

Vision and Mission Vision: Healthy Latino women and children with access to needed resources. Mission: To empower Latino families to optimize maternal and child health within their social and cultural context through education, outreach, partnership, and advocacy.

PASOs Programs in SC Counties Charleston PASOs began July of 2010.

Why is PASOs Needed in the Tricounty? 15% of the SC Hispanic population resides in the Tricounty Socio-cultural factors limit access to health and social services Evidence of health disparities ONLY comprehensive program in the Tricounty that addresses barriers to health for Hispanics Evidence based program focused on community engagement Builds capacity within the Hispanic community

Program Staff Deborah Williamson, DHA, RN Site Director Charleston PASOs

Grace Soulen AmeriCorps Volunteer & Program Assistant Charleston PASOs Virginia Vedilago, MA Program Coordinator Charleston PASOs Program Staff Mirian Rivera Program Assistant Charleston PASOs

Components of the PASOs Model OutreachEducation Partnership Building Advocacy

 Health Fairs  Migrant Camps  Tiendas and Laundromats  Soccer fields  Client Homes  Community meetings  Radio Outreach Venues

Outreach Provides the Community With:  PASOs Information  Free Folic Acid vitamins  Health and resource information  Referrals to health and social services  Benefits assistance (Medicaid/SNAP)

Outreach “House Party” within a community member’s home to provide information on teen health and teen pregnancy prevention

Focus on Resource Linkage Outreach Strategies:  Provide information  Screen  Refer or assist  Follow-up Partnering with Lowcountry AIDS Services to provide condoms and reproductive health information at local soccer league events. Outreach

Health fair at a local soccer tournament along with various community organizations and volunteers Outreach

Romina McCandless assists a migrant worker by interpreting his health needs to a physician during a migrant camp outreach event. Outreach

Discussion of contraceptive methods with female migrant workers

Weekly RADIO SHOWS 98 AM, EL Sol Introduce PASOs – Discuss the topic for the day (health, medical & social resources, system navigation etc.) – Give resources to help those dealing with some aspect of the health issue – Follow up calls address needs privately and allows PASOs to connect community members to resources Outreach

Outreach Summary outreach events facilitated with over 247 participants 40 radio shows facilitated 14 community health workers (promotores) trained in communications and cultural sensitivity 205 Individuals supported with resource navigation through the PASOs program 2,500 Estimated individuals reached through the radio

Outreach 2015: Promotores Responsible for outreach and resource navigation Evidence suggests promotores are very effective in reaching underserved communities to reduce barriers to health care

Educational Sessions Types Educational Sessions Conducted  Prenatal classes  Student & Provider training  “Charlas” (Lessons) in community settings Information Provided  Reproductive health and healthy lifestyles  Health resources and services  Social services and resources  Navigating the medical/social system  Overcoming socio-cultural barriers to health and social service access

Education  Focus on: Health literacy Resource navigation Prevention Prenatal Class Participants work together on a nutrition activity

Prenatal course participants on Johns Island review what they’ve learned Education

Prenatal Course Graduates

Anatomy and the Menstrual Cycle Lesson Education

Partnership Building Migrant health outreach event on Wadmalaw Island. Collaborating partners include PASOs, Fetter Health Care Network, the Disability Resource Center, MUSC, and Lowcountry AIDS Services.

Partner: Chas County School District Partner: Lowcountry AIDS Services Partner: Community Group Mujeres de Triumfo Partner: Council Woman Rhonda Jerome

-Change policies that limit access to services -Educate future health care providers on cultural competency -Encourage Hispanic community to advocate from within Advocacy

Why is PASOs a “Model that works”?  Personal relationships based on trust  Incorporates cultural values of the populations served  Understands the relevant needs of the community and being flexible to the specific needs and reality of the population served  We meet the community where they are  Continuous feedback loop of quality improvement with community input central to the process

Laurie Scott Director of Development College of Nursing MUSC Support Staff Maria Toler Manager, Office of Practice College of Nursing

MUSC Support Staff: Carlos Lopez Grants Manager College of Nursing Andrew Matthews Information Resource Consultant I College of Nursing Bernard Jansen Technology Manager College of Nursing

You can use PASOs as a resource Visit us at: or search for us on Facebook

Thank You!