Preparing Mexican-Origin Community Health Advocates (Promotores) to Conduct SBIRT for Problem Drinking in the Emergency Room.

Abstract

Community Health Advocates (CHAs), known as Promotores in Spanish-speaking communities, are an important resource for the mobilization, empowerment, and the delivery of health education messages in Hispanic/Latino communities. This article focuses on understanding cultural, didactic, and logistical aspects of preparing CHAs to become competent to perform a brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in the emergency room (ER). The CHAs training emphasizes making connections with Mexican-origin young adults aged 18-30, and capitalizing on a teachable moment to effect change in alcohol consumption and negative outcomes associated with alcohol use. We outline a CHA recruitment, content/methods training, and the analysis of advantages and challenges presented by the delivery of an intervention by CHAs.