Información de Salud para Promotoras - Dykes Library at the University of Kansas

Abstract

El Centro, Inc., a community based organization in Kansas City, KS with a mission to create and sustain opportunities that empower families, has recently begun a Promotoras program. Approximately 30 lay-health advisors attend regular training sessions then take what they’ve learned out to their communities; they act as a point of contact in the community for health information and resources. Most of the Promotoras do not speak fluent English and have low computer and health literacy skills. In an effort to change this, the Community Health Librarian at Dykes Library will coordinate a series of trainings with the Promotoras project, working closely with El Centro, Inc. and the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library (KCKPL). A Spanish-speaking librarian from KCKPL will work with the Community Health Librarian to create a curriculum to teach computer literacy skills to the Promotoras. Once they are more comfortable with technology, they will move on to locating health information in Spanish through a variety of web sites. In addition to the trainings, six laptops will be purchased that will be available to the Promotoras at El Centro. They can take these to their peers’ homes for use with one-on-one consultations or in small group training sessions. As a result, the Promotoras will become advocates for access to health information and resources in their community.