To confront the threat of diabetes on the U.S.-Mexico Border,
representatives from border communities in Yuma and Santa Cruz Counties joined
the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) to develop and
test a comprehensive and sustainable model for community-oriented chronic
disease prevention and control. Launched in October 2000, the Border
Health Strategic Initiative (Border Health ¡SI!) model promoted individual
prevention and control, while assisting communities to develop system-level
strategies that support healthy
behaviors. Central to the model’s success were promotores de salud, who
not only provided services to individuals, but also engaged community members in
addressing the health of their environment. Border Health ¡SI! was a true
collaboration between community and academic partners.
academic partners.
The former understood the needs and local issues of their
community. The latter brought technical expertise in intervention design and
evaluation. The synergy provided an energizing and inspirational
experience for all involved. The vision of Border Health ¡SI! was to create a
comprehensive chronic disease prevention and control model that will have the
greatest impact on a community over an extended period of time. To realize
this goal, the project operated under a set of guiding principles outlined
below.
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Comprehensive: addresses multi-levels of prevention.
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Community-Oriented: strategies developed within the
community.
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Acceptable to stake holders: involves community partnerships.
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Effective in fostering and sustaining change: strategies
involve individual skill building and support.
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Evaluation: rigorous scientific assessment of processes and
outcomes of change.
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Transportable: adaptable to other communities.
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Sustainable funding.
Under these guiding principles, Border Health ¡SI!
encompasses a series of objectives or project components that comprise our goal
toward a comprehensive and systems change approach to chronic disease.
Border Health ¡SI! programs:
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Special Action Groups - Help community design and
implement policy.
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Patients - Increase the extent and efficacy of patient
diabetes self-management through self-management, skill-building and
patient-empowerment.
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Providers - Work with health care providers in
community health centers to evaluate and improve the quality of their diabetes
care.
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Families - Increase the range of primary prevention
and diabetes support behaviors of family members of identified persons living
with diabetes.
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Community - Increase primary prevention behavior among
community members through improved nutrition and increased physical activity.
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Schools - Assist elementary and middle school to
develop policy related to school-based nutrition and physical activity.
Guiding Principles:
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Comprehensive
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Community-Oriented
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Acceptable to stake holders
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Effective in fostering and sustaining change
-
Evaluation: rigorous scientific assessment of processes and
outcomes of change
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Transportable: adaptable to other communities
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Sustainable post funding
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