CENTRO COMUNITARIO JUAN DIEGO

Since its inception over a decade ago, Centro Comunitario Juan Diego (CCJD) has maintained strong health promoter programs. Under the umbrella Promotoras de Salud (translated Health Promoters), CCJD has developed ? Una Visita Cuenta (A Visit Counts)- the home visit campaign, ? Salsa, Sabor, y Salud (Salsa, Flavor, and Health): a nutrition and exercise program geared toward- but not exclusive to- Mexican and Latino families who suffer from poor nutrition, obesity, hypertension and other weight related problems, ? Violence out of the Home: a domestic violence prevention and intervention program, ? La Vida es Dulce (Life is Sweet): a special support and education group for those with Diabetes or at high risk, ? El Gran Regalo-La Vida (The Great Gift of Life): a prenatal education and advocacy program and, ? Breathe Easy: a support and education group for children with asthma and their parents. The Community Health Promoters (CHPs) of Promotoras de Salud began their work in response to the dire need for better and more relevant health care, access to said health care, and health education in the South Chicago area. The distinct feature of Promotoras largely responsible for its success is the practice of home visits under Una Visita Cuenta. CHPs visit residents to help inform them of CCJD?s many programs, but more importantly, to listen. Because CHPs are part of the community they serve, they are very sensitive to the problems of their neighbors, often experiencing them themselves. Unfortunately, South Chicago has never fully recovered from the failure of the area?s steel mills, and the neighborhood is rife with health and education problems characteristic of communities with degenerating socioeconomic conditions. CCJD's programs have been a direct result of the observations made during home visits, designed to best address the community?s most urgent needs. A vital part of CCJD?s work is to build partnerships with local health institutions to bring medical services into the South Chicago area to address these needs. Chicago Family Health Center, South Shore Hospital, Jackson Park Hospital, and Michael Reese Hospital often refer their patients to our programs for their health benefit, and also offer free or discounted services to CCJD?s clients. For example, CHPs work in collaboration with Michael Reese and Mercy Hospital to arrange for low cost mammograms for those in need. CCJD has also established relationships with over 60 health care agencies that participate in CCJD Health Fairs and also provide free screenings and preventative health services. The home visits, therefore, serve several functions: to make health care more accessible to area residents by informing them of what services are available, and equally important ?to work with our ally agencies to be sure the services provided are those most needed by the community. In addition, CCJD strives to create innovative programs (briefly described above) to extend ?healthcare? beyond the traditional concept of clinics and offices and into homes and every day life.