FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 6, 2007
Contact:
Gloria Sanchez
(919) 828-1819
.
Media Contact:
Vivian Muzyk
(919) 828-1819
NC Newsletter Hopes Cultural Understanding of Latinas will Improve Health Outcomes
New North Carolina publication offers health professionals cultural and linguistic competency tips for working with Latinas
(Raleigh, NC) - The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation announces the launch of Maternidad Latina, an electronic newsletter that aims to bridge the cultural gap between local Latinas and health professionals. The bimonthly, English-language publication offers cultural and linguistic competency tips to help healthcare providers better communicate with the Latinas they serve.
"One of our goals is to promote the health of women and children across North Carolina. Increasingly, this group includes Latinas," says Janice Freedman, the Foundation's executive director. "Maternidad Latina is a response to this demographic change. By offering guidance on how health professionals can better communicate with Latinas, we hope to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for these women across the state."
Maternidad Latina’s inaugural issue features articles such as "10 Tips for Using an Interpreter," "5 Useful Spanish Health Phrases," and offers links to cultural competence resources. Future editions will address common Latino beliefs about healthcare, home remedies, cultural customs and more.
"The newsletter is just a part of our overall effort to serve Latinos," explains Gloria Sánchez, the Foundation's Latino outreach coordinator and Maternidad Latina editor. "Much of our outreach efforts focus on creating Spanish-language materials and resources for Latina women. Now, we're broadening our approach by improving communication between Latinas and the North Carolina health professionals who work with them."
The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation has been a leader in Latino Outreach across the state since it launched its Ana María campaign in 2000. The award-winning Ana María Campaign provides health information and referrals, developed by Latinos for Latinos, through linguistically and culturally appropriate educational print materials, advertisements and broadcast programming.
In 2006, the Foundation launched a Spanish language Web site at www.nchealthystart.org/enespanol. The site is one of the state’s most comprehensive, bilingual online health resources. It provides detailed information regarding infant mortality reduction, women’s health, pregnancy, infant care, child health insurance and North Carolina's healthcare system.
Currently the Foundation offers 22 Spanish-language educational materials. Last year, it distributed more than 500,000 pieces, free of charge, to health and human service organizations, community groups, businesses and individuals across the state. Materials feature topics related to improving women’s health, pregnancy, infant mortality reduction and children’s health.
The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation, a
nonprofit organization established in 1990, conducts
ongoing public education campaigns, advises state and
local policy makers, and provides technical assistance
and professional training focused on reducing infant
death and illness and improving the health of women
and young children in N.C.
