“Nos apoyamos mutuamente”: Strategies to supporting community health workers addressing the emergency and chronic needs of Latinx families.

Abstract

Community health workers (CHWs) have established pathways to implementing effective, sustainable, and cost-effective health programs among underserved populations. Despite the significant role of CHWs, there is limited literature describing the needs of CHWs, specifically in times of health emergencies and crises. Thus, we explored the challenges and sources of support among CHWs providing services to Latinx families. Participants were recruited from a Latinx community-based organization in metro Atlanta, working to strengthen family relationships using evidence-based programming. Fifteen semistructured interviews were conducted among CHWs. Interviews were conducted primarily in Spanish, recorded, transcribed, and translated into English for analysis. Following a thematic analysis, data were double-coded, and codes were described and compared for themes. Participants identified as Latinx (n = 15), were between the ages of 29 and 69 years, and had worked as CHWs between 1 month to 4 years. Two themes and seven subthemes were identified in the data. Theme 1 highlighted barriers and strategies employed by CHWs to address clients' preexisting and emerging needs, and Theme 2 focused on responding to client needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced new challenges and barriers that provoked adaptive organizational strategies to promote worker resilience. Addressing the needs of vulnerable communities in times of crisis to improve the working conditions for CHWs will require a multifaceted approach that prioritizes the removal of structural barriers. Barriers can be mitigated by prioritizing cultural assets, adopting flexible and equitable work policies, and enacting policies at the federal level that promote health justice. Impact StatementThe COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health crisis in the United States, and the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border have altered the trajectory of the health sector within the United States. For many years, community health workers have attempted to mitigate health emergencies exacerbated by systemic racism. This study describes how a community-based organization in metro Atlanta successfully adopted a collective approach to ensure the well-being of their community health workers and members. Community-based organizations, safety-net clinics, nonprofit organizations, and other advocacy agencies can benefit from adapting similar strategies.