Maria Martin and Alison Voravudhi, PASOs

1. Acércate! Authentic Engagement with
Latino Families and Communities
Maria Martin, BSW
Alison Voravudhi, MSW
September 14,2016

2. Objectives
• Better understand PASOs’ partnership with MIECHV and how
to utilize technical assistance and other resources offered by
PASOs.
• Learn and discuss concrete strategies to improve
engagement with Latino families and communities.
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

3. States with Largest Hispanic
Population Growth, 2000-2012
●Tennessee (up 163%)
●South Carolina (161%)
●Alabama (157%)
●Kentucky (135%)
●South Dakota (132%)

4. SC Counties with the Largest Latino Population
2015 (National Center for Health Statistics)
County Latino Population
Greenville 43,479
Richland 20,831
Beaufort 20,151
Charleston 19,614
Spartanburg 19,412
Horry 18,730
Lexington 16,254
York 12,744
Berkeley 12,525
Aiken 9,068

5. Growth of Latino child population in SC

6. What is PASOs
• PASOs is a state-wide, community-based
organization formed in 2005 in response to the
maternal, child and reproductive health needs of
the growing Latino population in South Carolina.
• Our mission is to help the Latino community and
service providers work together for strong and
healthy families.
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

7. What does PASOs do?
Community Education
❖ Culturally-tailored, adult
education classes in Spanish
❖ Health prevention topics:
• Family Planning
• Nutrition, Exercise & Folic Acid
• Using Community Health Resources
• Warning Signs during Pregnancy
• Maternal Stress and Depression
• Healthy Fathers, Healthy Families
• Domestic Violence
• STI/HIV Prevention and Treatment
• Immigrant Rights and Resources
• Teen Pregnancy/STI prevention
• Breastfeeding
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.
❖ Parenting education/
child abuse prevention
❖ Early childhood
development and
resources

8. What does PASOs do?
Connection to and navigation of resources
❖ Inform community about resources
❖ Individual support to connect to systems and resources
Outreach/Access Points
❖ Reaching people where they are: through Latino media, schools, churches,
neighborhoods, health centers
❖ Radio presence on four Spanish language radio stations
❖ Radionovelas

9. What does PASOs do?
Partnerships and Training
❖ Partner with organizations to help
them reach Latino families
❖ Trainings with service providers
Leadership Development
❖ Interactive training for Community
Health Workers (Promotores)
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

10. PASOs and MIECHV
Partnership since 2013
PASOs Provides:
❖ Cultural competence training
❖ Webinars
❖ Bridges in Action events
❖ Organizational assessment and
planning
❖ Technical assistance
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

11. I want Latino
participation on my
advisory board. What
should I do?
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

12. Advisory Board
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.
Find the Right People
❖ Participants
❖ Engage with other organizations (like PASOs)
Promote Accessibility
❖ Schedule
❖ Transportation
❖ Childcare
❖ Meal
❖ Take time to explain
❖ Acronyms/Jargon
❖ Background

13. How can we hire bilingual
staff?
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

14. Bilingual Staff
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.
Find the Right Person
❖ Spend as much time and effort finding
this person as you would another key
position (like your leadership team)
❖ Needs to engage and build trust, not
just be the right ethnicity
Work with PASOs
❖ Develop a tailored job description
❖ Disseminate broadly
❖ Interview to find the best fit
❖ Train specifically on Latino outreach
and service

15. Where is the Latino
network in my
community, and how do I
connect?
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.

16. Partnerships with Latino Groups
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.
Where to Look
❖ Ask PASOs
❖ Latino coalitions
❖ Churches
❖ Schools
Be a Good Partner
❖ Partnership is two way – give as much
as you take
❖ Relationship – takes time, effort, and
communication
❖ Ask how you can do better – then
listen

17. A note to end with…
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong Communities.
Authentic engagement takes time and
effort. Setbacks are normal. Don’t give up!

18. Contact Information
Maria Martin, Director of Programs
803-777-8341
maria@scpasos.org
Alison Voravudhi, Director of Capacity Building
803-528-4742
alison@scpasos.org
www.scpasos.org
www.facebook.com/pasosprogram
@SCPASOs
Healthy Children. Knowledgeable Families. Strong
Communities.