Background: Mexican American (MA) elders, who comprise the largest percentage of Latino elders, use home health care services (HHCS) less than other groups. Latino elders comprise 148% of the population, but only 55% to 62% of HHCS clients; are hospitalized more frequently for higher rates of chronic disease and are more functionally impaired at younger ages than other elders, indicating a high need for HHCS. Major societal demands can be significantly reduced by using HHCS, decreasing functional impairment, use of unnecessary health care services, and costs of caregiver illness, burden, depression, and mortality.Purpose: To improve health status for diverse minority and under-served populations, the ENCASA (Elders' aNd Caregivers' Assistance and Support At-home) Community Advisory Council members have met with the PI quarterly for 10 years to shape interventions, questionnaire items, content validity of measures and research participant recruitment.Methodology: Council members helped design and create a telenovela (dramatized videotape) and cafecito (follow-up group discussion), based on Narrative Pedagogy theory. We co-produced a pilot 8-minute telenovela, with a MA high school media class MA. elders (n=6) and adults (n=12) viewed the telenovela; and (n=43) participated in cafecitos, to discuss barriers, attitudes, and needs related to using HHCS.Findings: T-tests on pre- and post-tests showed increased knowledge about and propensity to use, HHCS after watching the telenovela, which also acted as a conversation starter among participants and the PI about family care. Themes indicated that participating in cafecitos increased knowledge that HHCS existed, by learning about HHCS through compelling examples. The ENCASA Council continues to provide consultation regarding each step of the upcoming professional production and testing of the Spanish and English telenovela/cafecito intervention, funded by NINR R21.Summary Concluding Statement: This method of community partnership and the culturally appropriate telenovela/cafecito venue provide system-wide approaches for addressing disparities for vulnerable populations. Background: Mexican American (MA) elders, who comprise the largest percentage of Latino elders, use home health care services (HHCS) less than other groups. Latino elders comprise 148% of the population, but only 55% to 62% of HHCS clients; are hospitalized more frequently for higher rates of chronic disease and are more functionally impaired at younger ages than other elders, indicating a high need for HHCS. Major societal demands can be significantly reduced by using HHCS, decreasing functional impairment, use of unnecessary health care services, and costs of caregiver illness, burden, depression, and mortality. Purpose: To improve health status for diverse minority and under-served populations, the ENCASA (Elders' aNd Caregivers' Assistance and Support At-home) Community Advisory Council members have met with the PI quarterly for 10 years to shape interventions, questionnaire items, content validity of measures and research participant recruitment. Methodology: Council members helped design and create a telenovela (dramatized videotape) and cafecito (follow-up group discussion), based on Narrative Pedagogy theory. We co-produced a pilot 8-minute telenovela, with a MA high school media class MA. elders (n=6) and adults (n=12) viewed the telenovela; and (n=43) participated in cafecitos, to discuss barriers, attitudes, and needs related to using HHCS. Findings: T-tests on pre- and post-tests showed increased knowledge about and propensity to use, HHCS after watching the telenovela, which also acted as a conversation starter among participants and the PI about family care. Themes indicated that participating in cafecitos increased knowledge that HHCS existed, by learning about HHCS through compelling examples. The ENCASA Council continues to provide consultation regarding each step of the upcoming professional production and testing of the Spanish and English telenovela/cafecito intervention, funded by NINR R21. Summary Concluding Statement: This method of community partnership and the culturally appropriate telenovela/cafecito venue provide system-wide approaches for addressing disparities for vulnerable populations.