This project is generously funded by the CT Health Foundation. For more info contact Denise O. Smith, Project Manager at dsmithcommunityhealth@gmail.com.

In 2015, Eastern CT Area Health Education Center (EAHEC), Inc., created the Conectando la Comunidad (CLC) Initiative funded by the Connecticut Health Foundation,

The Conectando la Communidad Initiative, promotes health care coverage enrollment, health and health insurance literacy training and technical assistance to CT community organizations and builds the capacity of Hispanic persons of color to navigate the health care system, gain access to appropriate primary care, behavioral health and prevention services.

Hispanic Persons of Color in Connecticut experience low rates of health care coverage and health literacy skills (Radelat, 2014). Conectando la Comunidad implemented a Pre-Training Survey asking Certified Application Counselors, Community Health Workers and others to rate the health literacy of the Hispanic Persons of Color they engage in programs and services. Responses from CACs in Graph 1 indicate a lack of health literacy among adult Hispanic Persons of Color:

Graph 1: Select CACs/CHWs Survey Responses Rating the Lack of Health Literacy Among HPOCs

Our Pre-Training Survey also asked Certified Application Counselors (CACs) to tell about the

enrollment assistance services they provide to Hispanic Persons of Color. Survey responses in Graph 2

reveals that many CACs do not include key health literacy concepts and skills that could improve the

ability of Hispanic Persons of Color to understand and use their health insurance.

Graph 2: Health Literacy Education Not Provided by Certified Application Counselors/CHWs

The Conectando la Comunidad (Connecting the Community) Project

Problem Statement and Pre-Training Survey

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INSURANCE

IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY CARE

WHEN TO USE ER OR PRIMARY CARE

HOW TO CHOOSE A PROVIDER

This project is generously funded by the CT Health Foundation. For more info contact Denise O. Smith, Project Manager at dsmithcommunityhealth@gmail.com.

The Coverage to Care (C2C) initiative launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2013, may be a helpful tool for Certified Application Counselors to use to help Hispanic individuals and families understand and use health insurance, however 95% of CACs surveyed do not use Coverage to Care tools and resources in their enrollment assistance services. Further, Coverage to Care does not provide implementation guidance to help CACs incorporate these tools into their various year-round programs.

Eastern AHEC analyzed CAC survey responses and research to frame our goals:

Analyze health insurance literacy gaps experienced by Hispanic Persons of Color

Train Certified Application Counselors, community health workers and others to understand and

implement Coverage to Care, improve literacy and system navigation skills

Evaluate Coverage to Care resources using a collaborative, culturally relevant lens

Develop strategies to address Coverage to Care implementation using health literacy study circles

The Conectando la Comunidad Initiative engaged Certified Application Counselors, community health workers and others in five, half-day regional training across Connecticut. Conectando la Comunidad Initiative training topics included:

Health Literacy Exploration (exploring health and health insurance literacy knowledge and skills gaps among Hispanic Persons of Color (consumers) and training participants

The Coverage to Care Roadmap and Resources (presenting 8 Roadmap Steps with strategies to address cultural, linguistic and implementation barriers)

The Teach Back Strategy (method to improve patient-provider communication) Health Literacy Study Circle (collaborative discussions to analyze implementation

challenges and develop innovations and adaptations for use with Coverage to Care)

Mid-project evaluations from five Conectando la Comunidad Initiative (CLC) training indicate:

93% of participants said that the Conectando la Comunidad training “presented information that is relevant to the needs of Hispanic clients and families”

90% of participants said “Coverage to Care tools will help Certified Application Counselors and CHWs improve health care literacy among Hispanic Persons of Color”

94% of participants said “The Teach Back Model presented in training provides an effective strategy to improve engagement and increase health literacy”

90% said that Conectando la Comunidad “was effective in preparing [me] to assist Hispanic Persons of Color in understanding and navigating the health care system”

Eastern CT AHEC (AHEC) is a culturally diverse, 501(c) non-profit led by Maritza Bond, a bi-lingual Latina with over 14 years of professional public health and management experience. AHEC recruits board and staff who are predominately Persons of Color, reflecting knowledgeable of the diverse culture of the low

income, mostly Hispanic, rural and urban communities served in Windham and New London County.

Conectando la Comunidad Goals

Our Training Approach

Mid-Project Findings from Connecticut Training

About Eastern CT AHEC, Inc.