Promotoras: Community health workers bridge cultural barriers

Oct. 05--For Rossy Gomar, promoting mental health is a full-time job.

As a promotora at Oakdale's Family Resource Center on West F Street, she has organized dance therapy classes and emotional support groups. She has also worked to disseminate health information.

With Gomar leading the groups, women are encouraged to tap their inner strengths to face adversity and come out stronger.

Maria Aguilera, who has schizophrenia, has found acceptance in one of Gomar's groups.

At a meeting last month, Aguilera told group members she did not understand the onset of her symptoms three years ago. She didn't feel like herself and began hearing voices and seeing people who were not there, she said.

She was no longer coherent the first time she went to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Aguilera said she came to understand her illness at the resource center, where people spoke her language, and gained access to valuable mental health services. Though social isolation is common among people with schizophrenia, Aguilera attends the group sessions for the emotional support and hugs.

With the Spanish-speaking women seated in a circle, Gomar asked them to share their thoughts on dance therapy. All of them wore the black T-shirts they designed with the words "Dance therapy" on the front and "promotoras" on the back.

One member said dancing relaxed her, made her feel energetic and helped her with patience. In the Latino community, music and dance are closely associated with wellness, said Vanessa Lopez, promotora coordinator for Stanislaus County mental health.

Another woman, who has diabetes, said the rhythmic exercise made her legs feel better.

To close out the meeting, Gomar had the women cross their arms and link hands. Then they spoke a word of encouragement to the person on their left.

The promotora movement, and its servicio de corazon, or "heartfelt service," has a different character in each of the nine Stanislaus County communities where it is active.

Promotoras are community workers employed by county mental health to spread health information in underserved Latino neighborhoods, sometimes working one-on-one with neighbors or organizing small groups.

In a county where Latinos represent 44 percent of the population, these community workers are charged with overcoming language and cultural barriers that limit access to health care.

Funded through the state's Mental Health Services Act, promotoras are one of 30 prevention and early intervention programs under county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. Six other nonprofit groups and local entities are part of the promotora network called RAIZ, or Realizando Alianzas y Inspirando Sabiduria, which means "building alliances and inspiring wisdom."

Lopez said the promotoras have different approaches to forming relationships with community members. As an example, the one in Patterson likes to have chats in homes, churches and migrant camps to talk about mental health.

In Oakdale, Gomar was active in school activities and volunteered at the Oakdale resource center before she was hired. She said she made contacts with the Latinas she met at street fairs or with others involved in causes. That helped to deepen her connections in the community.

Gomar said some women in her groups are outgoing, and she's there to empower them.

One is involved with Girl Scouts and also has a project with girls age 3 to 5, preparing them socially and culturally for school so they do not lack confidence. Another mom volunteers cleaning parks, public property and around the hospital.

In a new proposal, teenagers could lead a group on preventing suicide among Latino teens at the Oakdale resource center.

Gomar said, "I really believe all of these women care for the community, and if they are well-informed, they don't need me anymore."

Ken Carlson: 209-578-2321

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