BILL ANALYSIS
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ACR 75 (V. Manuel Perez and Ammiano)
As Amended July 7, 2009
Majority vote
HEALTH 16-0
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|Ayes:|Jones, Fletcher, Adams, |
| |Block, Carter, Conway, De |
| |Leon, Emmerson, Gaines, |
| |Hall, Hayashi, Hernandez, |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, Nava, |
| |V. Manuel Perez, Audra |
| |Strickland |
| | |
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SUMMARY : Declares October 2009 as California Promotores Month
in order to raise awareness of the contributions of promotores
and community health workers (CHWs). Specifically, this
resolution :
1)Endorses the work of promotores and recognizes the leadership
provided by Vision y Compromiso ("Vision and Commitment"; VYC)
, and various others for their dedication to and collaboration
with promotores and CHWs.
2)States the Legislature's support for promotores' continuing
efforts to increase their presence and support the well-being
of California communities.
3)Encourages policies and programs that enhance the status and
integration of promotores in the delivery of health care, and
incentives and funding to encourage promotores program
development and integration.
4)Makes legislative findings related to health care delivery;
outreach to individuals and families; barriers to health care
access; California's uninsured population; the work of
promotores and CHWs; the success of promotores and CHWs in
improving access to care and health outcomes; the work of VYC;
and, the lack of recognition and educational and employment
opportunities offered to CHWs and promotores.
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FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : According to the author, CHWs and promotores play a
critical role in promoting community-based health education and
disease prevention, particularly in communities that have been
historically underserved. The author contends this resolution
is needed to introduce the CHW/Promotor model to the
Legislature, and that the work of promotores and CHWs is vital
to our communities and should be honored and celebrated.
CHWs, also known as community health outreach workers, community
health advocates, peer health promoters, and, in Spanish,
promotores/as or promotores/as de salud, are generally community
members who work in community settings to connect health care
consumers to providers and to promote better health among groups
that have traditionally lacked access to adequate health care.
CHWs live in the communities in which they work, understand what
is meaningful to those communities, communicate in the language
of the people, and recognize and incorporate cultural buffers,
such as cultural identity, spiritual coping, and traditional
health practices, to help community members cope with stress and
to promote better health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states many
health programs are turning to CHWs and promotores for their
unique ability to serve as bridges between community members and
health care services. CHWs can build partnerships with formal
health care delivery systems and provide a community-based
system of care and social support that complements the more
specialized services of health care providers. Importantly,
CHWs also inform providers about the community's health needs
and the cultural relevancy of interventions by helping providers
and health care systems build their cultural competence. CHWs
strengthen community networks for care, providing community
members with social support and education, and facilitating
access to care. CDC also notes that the Institute of Medicine
recommends the use of CHWs as part of a comprehensive,
multi-level strategy to address racial and ethnic disparities in
health care. According to CDC, the states of Maryland and Texas
require health maintenance organizations and other health care
providers to use CHWs to reach priority populations.
A February 2003 Commonwealth Fund study found that Latinos who
speak primarily Spanish report poorer health status, are less
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likely to have a regular doctor, less likely to have seen a
doctor in the past two years, and more likely to lack insurance
than English-speaking Latinos, Caucasians, or African-Americans.
Spanish-speaking Latinos have the most difficulty of any group
in understanding information at their doctor's office and with
understanding instructions for prescription medication. In
October 2002, the Commonwealth Fund also reported that there is
a link between increased cultural competence and the elimination
of racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
VYC states it was established in 2000 in collaboration with the
University of California Riverside, and is the only statewide
organization that provides ongoing leadership development,
capacity building, and advocacy for CHWs in California. In
2001, VYC initiated the Promotora and Community Health Worker
Network (Network) to support promotores and CHWs across
California towards achieving healthy and dignified living for
immigrant Latinos. The Network is composed primarily of Latinos
who provide low-income Latino communities with culturally
appropriate health information and education, advocate for
improved access to health care and services, and promote a
statewide public policy agenda focused on health care access and
health promotion. The Network is currently active in 10
California regions: San Diego County; Inland Empire (San
Bernardino and Riverside Counties); Orange County; Los Angeles
including the San Fernando Valley; the Central Coast including
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties; the
Central Valley; Stanislaus County; Marin and Napa Counties; the
San Francisco Bay Area; and, Northern California. VYC states
that by building the capacity of promotores and CHWs, it
strengthens the capacity of communities to improve their health,
organize, confront obstacles to care, and inform health policy.
Analysis Prepared by : Allegra Kim / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0002384