BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 75|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 75
Author: V. Manuel Perez (D), et al
Amended: 8/27/09 in Assembly
Vote: 21
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted
SUBJECT : Promotores and community health workers
SOURCE : Visi?n y Compromiso
DIGEST : This resolution declares October 2009 as
California Promotores Month in order to raise awareness of
the contributions of promotores and community health
workers.
ANALYSIS :
This resolution makes the following Legislative findings:
1. Endorses the work of promotores and recognizes the
leadership provided by Visi?n y Compromiso ("Vision and
Commitment"; VYC), and various others for their
dedication to and collaboration with promotores and
community health workers (CHWs).
2. States the Legislature's support for promotores'
continuing efforts to increase their presence and
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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.
Background
According to the author's office, 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's office 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
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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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/8/09)
Visi?n y Compromiso (source)
Arthritis Foundation
Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network
Comit? Civico Del Valle, Inc
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Figueroa Corridor Community Land Trust
First 5 LA
Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services
Healthy Eating, Active Communities Initiative
Institute of Popular Education of Southern California
La Cl?nica de la Raza, Inc
Latino Behavioral Health Institute
Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
Latino Programs, American Diabetes Association
Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention Center
Pacoima Beautiful Latino Health Access
Parent Leadership Action Network Plan
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Inc. (PPAC)
Riverside Community Health Foundation
Youth Speak Collective Family Development Network
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JJA:do 9/8/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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