Promotores have unique access to underserved and hard-to-reach Latino communities facing health disparities. Although promotores are involved in community change, they rarely receive training that gives them the skills to be partners in research. We present a case study of promotoras who participated in a research capacity building course focused on assessing community health needs. Data comes from course application surveys, follow-up notes, and narratives from qualitative phone interviews of eight promotoras. Content analysis drawing from grounded theory was conducted to identify and describe emerging themes. Four themes emerged as promotoras discussed their experience learning basic research skills and teaching others: (1) challenges, (2) support, (3) building capacity, and (4) using research. Promotores play an important role in the health of Latino communities and are increasingly asked to participate in research processes; however they have few opportunities for training and professional development in this area. Capacity building opportunities for promotores need to be tailored to their needs and provide them with support. Fostering collaboration between promotores and partnering with local community-based organizations can help facilitate needed research skill-building among promotores.

The Healthy Aging Partnerships in Prevention Initiative (HAPPI) is a multisectoral collaboration that aims to increase use of recommended cancer screening and other clinical preventive services (CPS) among underserved African American and Latino adults aged 50 and older in South Los Angeles. HAPPI uses the principles of the evidence-based model Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration to increase capacity for the delivery of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening, as well as influenza and pneumococcal immunizations, and cholesterol screening. This article describes HAPPI’s collaborative efforts to enhance local capacity by training personnel from community health centers (CHCs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), implementing a small grants program, and forming a community advisory council. HAPPI demonstrates that existing resources in the region can be successfully linked and leveraged to increase awareness and receipt of CPS. Five CHCs expanded quality improvement efforts and eight CBOs reached 2,730 older African Americans and Latinos through locally tailored educational programs that encouraged community–clinic linkages. A community council assumed leadership roles to ensure HAPPI sustainability. The lessons learned from these collective efforts hold promise for increasing awareness and fostering the use of CPS by older adults in underserved communities.

Objectives In an era of community-based participatory research and increased expectations for evidence-based practice, we evaluated an initiative designed to increase community-based organizations' data and research capacity through a 3-day train-the-trainer course on community health assessments. Methods We employed a mixed method pre–post course evaluation design. Various data sources collected from 171 participants captured individual and organizational characteristics and pre–post course self-efficacy on 19 core skills, as well as behavior change 1 year later among a subsample of participants. Results Before the course, participants reported limited previous experience with data and low self-efficacy in basic research skills. Immediately after the course, participants demonstrated statistically significant increases in data and research self-efficacy. The subsample reported application of community assessment Skills to their work and increased use of data 1 year later. Conclusions Results suggest that an intensive, short-term training program can achieve large immediate gains in data and research self-efficacy in community-based organization staff. In addition, they demonstrate initial evidence of longer-term behavior change related to use of data and research skills to support their community work.

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The HAPPI Project Artículo originAl Bravo RL, Kietzman KG, Toy P, Duru OK, Wallace SP. Linking primary care and community organizations to increase colorectal cancer screening rates: the HAPPI project. Salud Publica Mex. 2019;61:427-435. https://doi.org/10.21149/9450 Bravo RL, Kietzman KG, Toy P, Duru OK, Wallace SP. Promover una alianza entre la atención primaria y las organizaciones comunitarias para aumentar las pruebas de detección de cáncer colorrectal: el proyecto HAPPI. Salud Publica Mex. 2019;61:427-435. AbstractObjective. The Healthy Aging Partnerships in Prevention Initiative (HAPPI) aims to increase the use of clinical preventive services (CPS) among underserved Latinos and African Americans in South Los Angeles who are 50+ years old. Materials and methods. HAPPI uses an evidencebased model, SPARC, to leverage existing resources and link community resources. HAPPI's multi-sectoral partnerships include local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community health centers (CHCs), aging and public health agencies serving the City and County of Los Angeles, and a university. Activities include CHC capacity assessment and training, and community capacity-building that included a small grants program. Results. We engaged five CHCs in quality improvement activities and eight NGOs in networking and programming to increase awareness and receipt of CPS. We discuss barriers and facilitators including the success of trainings conducted with CHC providers and NGO representatives. Conclusion. Multi-sectoral collaborations hold promise for increasing awareness and use of CPS in underserved communities. ResumenObjetivo. HAPPI se propone aumentar el uso de servicios clínicos preventivos (SCP) en personas mayores de 50 años en Los Ángeles. Material y métodos. HAPPI es una colaboración intersectorial e incluye organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG) locales, centros de salud comunitarios (CSC), centros de servicios para personas mayores, agencias de salud pública que dan servicio a la ciudad y al condado de Los Ángeles, y una universidad pública para movilizar recursos comunitarios y promover lazos entre las asociaciones. Sus actividades incluyen asesorar y aumentar la capacitación de CSC y la comunidad, además de un programa de becas. Resultados. Se colaboró con cinco CSC para la mejora de calidad y con ocho ONG para abrir conciencia de los SCP. Se presentaron barreras y facilitadores incluyendo el éxito de las enseñanzas con proveedores de CSC y representantes de las ONG. Conclusión. Las colaboraciones multi-sectoriales son prometedoras para amplificar conciencia del uso de SCP en personas mayores.Palabras clave: salud pública; colaboración intersectorial; servicios preventivos de salud Artículo originAl 428 salud pública de méxico / vol. 61, no. 4, julio-agosto de 2019 Bravo RL y col.