Client: New Jersey’s Department of Health and Senior Services/Office of Minority and Multicultural Health

CHS Staff at the “Viva Saludable” Health Fair, City of Vineland New Jersey. Photo by Louis A. Marino

Under this grant funded by the State of New Jersey, the Center for Human Services (CHS) is providing diabetes management services to the Hispanic population living in Cumberland County, New Jersey, with a focus on the migrant and seasonal farmworkers community. Prevalence rates of diabetes and risk factors related to development of the disease are especially high in the Hispanic population in Cumberland County, where access to health care and health services utilization is extremely low. CHS is building on a 12-year relationship with the Hispanic community in Cumberland County that has developed through the health education, outreach and preventive care services CHS has provided under the Migratory Agricultural Workers and Seasonal Farm Workers with Disabilities Service Projects.

In partnership with Community Health Care Incorporated (CHCI), a non-profit, community-based medical and dental care provider with health care centers throughout Cumberland County, CHS is working to reduce risk factors and the incidence of diabetes in the target communities. The project team seeks to mitigate the language, socio economic status and cultural barriers that inhibit Hispanics from accessing the healthcare services needed to prevent, diagnose, monitor, and treat diabetes. Further, under the project, educational programs are being implemented to increase health awareness, heighten compliance with medical guidelines and improve self-management of the disease, as well as to implement monitoring and data collection procedures.

• Develop programmatic strategies at CHCI and CHS locations to reduce diabetes health disparities by implementing racial/ethnic data collection/tracking, emphasizing cultural competency, increasing access to quality of care for surrounding Hispanic and MSFW communities, and developing community partnerships.
• Integrate diabetes disease management program for the Latino/Hispanic population in Cumberland County into the existing health care system/program through a series of activities and interventions which are culturally appropriate.
• Establish an individual computer analysis program to enable participants to develop self-management goals and review and chart progress.
• Enhance participants’ understanding and appreciation of the importance of nutrition and exercise and how they effect diabetes management.
• Refer participants to CHCI for needed treatment, health services, and check-ups.

Community Health Care Incorporated

Cumberland County, New Jersey

Louis Marino
Center for Human Services
P.O. Box 775
Bridgeton , NJ 08302
lmarino@urc-chs.com

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