PASOs PROGRAM EVALUATION:

The University of South Carolina Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies is supporting PASOs on it program evaluation. The evaluation involves qualitative and quantitative research methods to determine changes in knowledge and behavior intentions of program participants. Also being measured are effects of the program on participants’ social networking skills, empowerment and self-efficacy, effectiveness of outreach efforts, and the results of cultural competency seminars for health and social service providers. Contact Myriam Torres at myriam@scpasos.org for more information.

JUNTAS PODEMOS:

Juntas Podemos (Together We Can) is a collaboration between PASOs, the Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies, and South Carolina Hispanic Outreach, and is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of the Salud America project. It proposes a partnership between public health researchers, community leaders, and Latino families to develop effective policy recommendations regarding physical activity in Latino children and present them to policy makers who have the power to make change. The project will have a major community-based-participatory research component through the use of the Photovoice method. All the data collected will be jointly analyzed by Latina mothers and the researchers. Juntas Podemos will facilitate the empowerment of disadvantaged Latino families by guiding them to think about the problem of childhood obesity and helping them find a voice to influence the solutions.

Perinatal Outlook for Latina Women and Children In the Midlands Region of South Carolina [PDF]

Read the needs assessment report that led to the creation of the PASOs Program (formerly known as the Latino Perinatal Outreach Program)

ELLAS:

Empowering Latinas to Lash-Out Against AIDS (ELLAS) Project: This is a four-year exploratory research study that will use both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, whose funding comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Minority AIDS Research Initiative (MARI).  The purpose of the study is to develop and pilot test perinatal HIV prevention and testing messages and educational materials for pregnant Latinas in South Carolina and to determine their intention to take or not take the HIV test.  The project also includes a component to determine any perceived barriers the health care provider may be having with counseling and/or administering the HIV (and other STIs) test to pregnant Latinas. PASOs is involved in the ELLAS project as part of its Advisory Council. Contact Edena Meetze at meetzee@mailbox.sc.edu for more information.

ENLACE:

ENLACE is a community-based program funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is working with the USC College of Nursing and the South Carolina Hispanic Latino Health Coalition to promote physical activity among Mexican immigrant women.  The purpose of the project is to work with community partners including women in the community, to develop culturally appropriate and accessible physical activity programs.  PASOs participates in the ENLACE project as part of its Project Advisory Team. Contact DeAnne Messias at dkmessia@mailbox.sc.edu for more information.