Providence California program for Latino population (Burbank, Calif.)
www.providence.org/losangeles/

With a rapidly increasing Latino population in the San Fernando Valley area, Providence Health System's Burbank, Calif.-based region has expanded its outreach to this group in recent years to meet evolving needs. Working closely with local churches and schools, the organization offers health screenings; nutrition, exercise, stress-management, and other classes; health fairs; health education; referrals; and other services. Key to the programs' success are Latino Health Promoters and the Parish Nurse Partnership. The promoters are community members who have been trained to provide basic health information to minorities. The parish nurses are four Spanish-speaking nurses who provide parishioners with basic care and help in navigating the health care system. These nurses meet parishioners "where they are" and address the needs of "the whole person" in the context of the community.

In the future, Providence plans to intensify its focus on preventive health programs, with special attention to diabetes and obesity, conditions of particular concern to Latinos.