Project Description
Underserved/underrepresented populations are more likely to experience ACEs due to factors such as structural and historical inequalities (Camacho & Clark Henderson, 2022). Currently, Alachua County is experiencing an increase in underserved/underrepresented populations, and these groups have limited access to care (Dalton et al., 2021). Additionally, hypertension is particularly common in Florida, affecting nearly half of the adults between the ages of 45 and 79 (Smith, 2018). Based on this, I put together a proposal that aims to address hypertension in Alachua county’s underserved community, particularly immigrants with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This project would be in partnership with the Equal Access Clinic Network and would focus on enhancing knowledge and management of elevated blood pressure through education, empowerment, and comprehensive health support. The project involves bi-monthly check-ins, tailored nutritional guidance, and mental health support to empower individuals with the necessary tools for effective health management.
Trauma-Informed Principles
This project integrates four core trauma-informed principles (SAMHSA, 2023). Firstly, safety is emphasized to create a non-threatening atmosphere that encourages continued participation, incorporating security measures and respectful interactions. Secondly, trustworthiness and transparency are prioritized to establish and maintain trust through consistent, fair practices and clear communication. Empowerment is facilitated by engaging participants in their own health care decisions. Lastly, cultural, historical and gender considerations are factored in to avoid biases and ensure that interventions are respectful and inclusive of the diverse backgrounds of the participants.
Levels of the Social-Ecological Model
The intervention targets the individual levels of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) (Caperon et al., 2022). At the individual level, the focus is on changing personal behaviors and attitudes to improve health outcomes through education and empowerment strategies tailored to each participant’s needs.
Public Health Framework
The project uses a public health framework oriented towards secondary and tertiary prevention (Kisling & Das, 2023) strategies to address elevated blood pressure within Alachua County’s underserved population. It aligns with secondary prevention by targeting at-risk individuals to prevent the progression of hypertension through routine monitoring and personalized patient education. If hypertension worsens, the project shifts towards tertiary prevention to manage the disease and prevent further complications.
References
Camacho, S., & Clark Henderson, S. (2022). The Social Determinants of Adverse Childhood Experiences: An Intersectional Analysis of Place, Access to Resources, and Compounding Effects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), 10670. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710670
Caperon, L., Saville, F., & Ahern, S. (2022). Developing a socio-ecological model for community engagement in a health programme in an underserved urban area. PLOS ONE, 17(9), e0275092. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275092
Dalton, R., Brown, J. D., & Duarte, J. D. (2021). Patients with geographic barriers to health care access are prescribed a higher proportion of drugs with pharmacogenetic testing guidelines. Clinical and Translational Science, 14(5), 1841–1852. https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.13032
Kisling, L., & Das, J. (2023). Prevention Strategies. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537222/
SAMHSA. (2023). Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach I Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach Acknowledgments Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites.../pep23-06-05-005.pdf
Smith, S. M. (2018). Hypertension in Florida: Data From the OneFlorida Clinical Data Research Network. Preventing Chronic Disease, 15. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.170332
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