"I think that this program helps a lot of people. The migrant workers and the community benefit a lot as well as the Promotores."-Tino Torres, Promotor
Promotores and Promotoras help their peers stay informed, access health resources and build healthier communities. They rely on shared language, culture and experiences to offer culturally and linguistically competent information and support to other farmworkers and border residents. In addition to supporting individual health, Promotores(as) unite community members, develop relationships in the community and advocate for health resources in their labor camps and communities.
Promotor(a) programs use existing community strengths to create and sustain positive changes. Strong family and community networks, for example, allow Promotores(as) to bring health information, support and referrals directly to their peers. They help their peers overcome common barriers to primary and preventative care, such as language and cultural differences, transportation issues, mistrust of the system, financial barriers and misinformation.
All of Migrant Health Promotion's programs support Promotores(as) in isolated farmworker labor camps and communities, including border communities. Promotores(as) participate in health training and share what they have learned with their families and communities. The result is powerful. Trained Promotores(as) bring information, resources and improved access to services to their communities:
"Community Health Workers are community members who educate and serve individuals and groups to gain greater control over their health and their lives.... As community members, [they] are able to translate health information about prevention and the health system into the community's culture, language and value system. As a result, they reduce cultural, linguistic, social and financial barriers to health care access." 1
For more information about Migrant Health Promotion's program models and results, visit Our Programs.
To learn about Migrant Health Promotion's vision, mission and philosophy, visit About Us.
References
(1) Center for Policy Alternatives. (1997). Community health workers: A leadership brief on preventative health programs. Harrison institute for Public Law at Georgetown University Law Center and the Center for Policy Alternatives.