Category: Dissemination & Implementation Science
Erika Luis Sanchez, M.A.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Miya Barnett, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Erika Luis Sanchez, M.A.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Hanan Salem, PhD
Doctoral Student
University of California, Santa Barbara
Goleta, California
Tana Holt, PhD
Research Assistant
San Diego State University
Austin, Texas
Kelsey Dickson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
San Diego State University
San Diego, California
Kendra Knudsen, M.A.
Doctoral Student
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
Despite efforts to improve access and utilization of mental health services among marginalized populations (e.g., ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+), much work remains to be done to offset the myriad of challenges these populations encounter. Innovative solutions are being developed, tested, and disseminated to counteract systemic deficits in the appropriate provision of mental health care services, including culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate services, to further close the service access and utilization gap among marginalized populations. For example, the recruitment of Lay Health Workers (LHWs) to bridge communities to mental health services has been increasingly recognized as an encouraging implementation strategy. LHWs are often members of the communities they serve and provide support to community members in a variety of roles such as Promotoras de Salud (health promotores), Peer-Partners, and Health Navigators, to mention a few. The challenges brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, (e.g., the forced transition to telehealth, loss of family members, and resources) may have further challenged mental health service access and utilization among members of the communities who need support the most. LHWs have been included in COVID-19 responses and policies, given the important roles they can play to address disparities and address public health crises. However, limited research has identified how to best train and support LHWs to effectively enhance equity in mental health services. The presentations included in this symposium highlight implementation supports needed for LHWs. The first talk will provide an overview of an ethnographic study of consultation and supervision supports provided to Promotoras de Salud in their internet-delivered efforts to engage and help families successfully complete Parent-Child Interaction Therapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The second presentation will present the results of a qualitative study interviewing LGBTQ+ youth and caregivers, and LHWs to identify the service needs of LGBTQ+ youth and families as well as LHW training and supervision needs. Next, the design and implementation of a peer-to-peer coach training program to support a digital mental health intervention for undergraduate students will be described. The final talk will present a project describing a needs assessment to inform selection and testing of implementation strategies to improve EBP delivery in a care coordination model at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Following these presentations, an expert in LHW models of care will discuss findings regarding future considerations for the advancement of supporting LHWs to enhance access to EBPs.
Presenter: Erika Luis Sanchez, M.A. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Co-author: Jessica green-Rosas, MA – University of California Santa Barbara
Co-author: Yaxha Mariles, BA – University of California Santa Barbara
Co-author: Miya Barnett, Ph.D. – University of California Santa Barbara
Presenter: Hanan Salem, PhD – University of California, Santa Barbara
Co-author: Miya Barnett, Ph.D. – University of California Santa Barbara
Co-author: Yessica Green Rosas, MA – University of California, Santa Barbara
Co-author: Rocio Nunez Pepen, BA – Boston Medical Center
Co-author: Andrea Chu, MPH – Boston Medical Center
Co-author: Emily Feinberg, ScD, CPNP – Boston University School of Medicine
Co-author: Sarabeth Broder-Fingert, MD, MPH – UMass Chan Medical School
Presenter: Tana Holt, PhD – San Diego State University
Presenter: Kelsey S. Dickson, Ph.D. – San Diego State University
Presenter: Kendra S. Knudsen, M.A. – UCLA
Co-Author: Tamar Kodish, M.A. – University of California Los Angeles
Co-author: Benjamin Rosenberg, MA, CPhil – UCLA
Co-author: Zachary Cohen, Ph.D. – UCLA
Co-author: Elizabeth Gong-Guy, PhD – UCLA
Co-author: Michelle G. Craske, Ph.D. – University of California Los Angeles