"I gained new ideas, new friendships and above all, lots of positive information to be a better Promotora de Salud. My batteries are charged!"-Participant, Migrant Health Promotion's "Nuestros Líderes: Promotores de Salud" workshop

“Your Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud training was just what our Promotores(as) needed. It brought in new ideas and information, and underscored many things that we have been telling them. Also, your style as a presenter/facilitator showed them that there are many ways of running a workshop. Seeing that, hopefully, will build their confidence in developing their own individual styles.”  -Carl Wilmsen, Executive Director, Alliance of Forest Workers and Harvesters

Migrant Health Promotion supports Promotores' and Promotoras' professional development with training, newsletters and networking opportunities.

Training

For over 25 years, Migrant Health Promotion has been training Promotores(as) in the core skills, knowledge of health issues and linkages to health and social service systems necessary for effective Promotor(a) work. Our facilitators use adult education and Popular Education methods to make learning fun, memorable and a vehicle for social justice. Experienced Promotores(as) and representatives of other organizations co-facilitate with Migrant Health Promotion staff, ensuring that training is relevant to the Promotores(as) and to the community.

Migrant Health Promotion provides training for Promotores(as) on a variety of topics. On-site training and training materials are available. Promotor(a) training topics often include:

• Promotor(a) roles
• Promotor(a)skills:
  • Leadership
  • Home visits and other outreach
  • Health education materials and methods
  • Effective communication
  • Popular Education, group facilitation and public speaking
  • Personal safety
  • Professionalism and ethics
  • Problem solving
  • Cultural competency
  • Data collection and evaluation
• The health and social service system (available services, collaboration with other service providers, eligibility, application procedures, referrals and follow-up)
• Specific health topics (physical, mental, behavioral and other health issues)

Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud

In 2011, Migrant Health Promotion completed the development and pilot phase of the Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud national training recognition program. A total of 37 Promotores(as) successfully completed the seven core modules and an additional 96 Promotores(as) began the training program in Texas, Colorado, and Oregon in 2012.

The Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud is a series of skill-building and health education modules that are used to help prepare and develop health outreach skills. The modules may be completed one at a time or all at once. The seven modules require a total of 48 training hours. After each module, the Promotor(a) receives a stamp in his/her “passport” booklet. This booklet includes a description of the training and a stamp validating completion of each module.  The “Pasaporte” training is not a formal certification. Instead, it is a recognition of training, which is recorded in the passport booklet for Promotores(as) to share with their employers and peers. 

The training module topics include:

Module 1: Promotor(a) Scope of Work

Provides information and training regarding the role of Promotores(as) as health educators and advocates (8 hrs).

Module 2: Teaching, Capacity Building & Popular Education

Provides training on popular education techniques, teaching strategies, and how to adapt programs and materials to fit the needs of the community (8 hrs).

Module 3: Cultural Competence

Provides an understanding of the concepts of culture and diversity and the skills to provide culturally sensitive and appropriate education and services (8 hrs).

Module 4: Communication

Focuses on development and application of communication skills and delivery (8 hrs).

Module 5: Service Coordination Skills

Provides Promotores(as) with the skills to identify and make connections with community organizations and resources that would benefit their communities (4 hrs).

Module 6: Confidentiality and Ethical Responsibilities

Provides an understanding of the ethical responsibilities and issues of confidentiality that arise when working with sensitive health information (4 hrs).

Module 7: Evaluation Tools for Promotores(as)

Teaches the importance of program evaluation and provides the tools and skills to conduct meaningful program evaluation and community needs assessments (8 hrs).

As the Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud program continues to be disseminated across the nation, MHP has worked with various states to address their unique needs. For example, in November 2011, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): Community Health Worker Training & Certification Program approved the Pasaporte de Promotor(a) de Salud training curriculum as Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for state certification for Community Health Workers and Promotores(as). Migrant Health Promotion looks forward to organizing regional conferences to continue to build the skills of Promotores(as).

What is the cost?

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) may receive this training for free. They are asked only to cover the actual costs of transportation, meals and hotel for the trainer. Non-FQHCs may receive the trainings for an additional low-cost fee. Contact Migrant Health Promotion for more details.

To reduce the cost of the training, consider partnering with other organizations in your area to hold a regional training.

How do we schedule a training?

Contact us directly by phone or email to discuss available dates. In most cases, we can work around your schedule. Remember that training modules can be completed out-of-sequence and trainees are not required to complete all modules.

Join Migrant Health Promotion's Network of Promotores(as)

We encourage Promotores(as) to join our mailing list. As part of Migrant Health Promotion's nationwide network, Promotores(as) enjoy:

• "La Esperanza," the newsletter for and about Promotores(as)
• An invitation to our annual Promotor(a) training conference in Texas.
• The opportunity to visit Migrant Health Promotion's programs and see experienced Promotores(as) in action
• Invitations to conferences and other events

Experienced Promotores(as) who migrate to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas are eligible to participate in Migrant Health Promotion's Colonia Health Worker Programs.

Contact Migrant Health Promotion's Capacity-Building Team for more information about Promotor(a) training or to join our mailing list.