Promotoras are key in promoting mental health awareness and literacy, helping increase access to mental health care treatments among Latino communities. For underserved Latino communities, the availability of culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health care is a high-priority need — including trauma-informed care and mental health crisis services.
As members of the communities they serve, Promotoras are highly equipped to build trust and meaningful conversations with Hispanic and Latino individuals and families around trauma, healing, and mental health, being closely attuned and understanding their sociocultural experiences and community life. In this respect, Promotoras serve as ambassadors of Latino communities' physical and emotional well-being, helping to communicate and expand understanding around mental health needs and services.
Objectives:
1. Identify trauma experiences as a high-priority need among Latino communities and the role of Promotoras in educating and increasing awareness among community members.
2. Describe trauma-informed community outreach and the role of Promotoras in implementing culturally grounded outreach strategies.
3. Address culturally responsive, effective communication strategies to address Latino families' trauma-related needs.
4. Recognize and discuss the importance of implementing self-care strategies among Promotoras working with Latino communities.
Teresa Chapa, PhD
Advisory Board Member, National Hispanic, and Latino MHTTC
Dr. Teresa Chapa is a lifelong advocate for mental health and wellness, health equity, integrated behavioral health, cultural and linguistic competence, and workforce development. She comes to Fred Finch after a distinguished career in government and higher education, most recently as a senior clinical consultant with the National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center; executive dean for the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), Alliant International University, and more than 16 years in senior positions across the US Department of Health and Human Services. Teresa has a BA in psychology from San Francisco State University, a PhD in Clinical Psychology from CSPP-Berkeley, and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.
CDR Karina D. Aguilar, DrPH, MSW, CPH
Assistant Regional Administrator Region II
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
CDR Karina D. Aguilar, DrPH, MSW, CPH, is the first to serve as the Assistant Regional Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in Region II Office, where she works to advance SAMHSA's mission through the promotion of evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. Before joining the SAMHSA Regional team, CDR Aguilar worked in the HHS - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) and served as the Regional Program Consultant for the Title X Family Planning Grant Program. In this role, she supported the Region II grantees in providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventative health services. CDR Aguilar received her undergraduate degree in Health and Human Services from the State University of NY at Buffalo, her M.S. in Health Services Administration from D'Youville College, an M.S.W from Hunter College, and her Doctorate in Public Health Policy and Management at New York Medical College. Her professional interests include working with youth/young adults and the elderly to achieve healthy outcomes and navigating healthcare systems to increase access. CDR Aguilar was recognized for her leadership and talent and is the recipient of many awards and honors. As a Commander with the United States Public Health Service since 2006, she has deployed numerous times, including in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Ebola mission, and the Unaccompanied Children Support.
Karla Zenteno, MS
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Karla Zenteno nacio en la Ciudad de México y vive en los Estados Unidos desde los 15 años. Posee una licenciatura de Cal State Northridge en Artes Liberales. Actualmente esta cursando una maestría como terapeuta familiar y matrimonial en Mount St. Mary's University. Trabaja en Didi Hirsch en prevención del suicidio por los pasado 6 años. Se unio a esfuerzos de prevención del suicidio como voluntaria hace 7.5 años, y me siente enamorada de la misión. Ha apoyado, guiado y contratado a consejeros de BL / Crisis para la línea de crisis.
Ibis Carrión-González, PsyD
Director, National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC
Dr. Ibis S. Carrión-González is a clinical psychologist from Puerto Rico. Since 2005, she has worked with the Institute of Research, Education, and Services in Addiction (IRESA) at Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Dr. Carrión has been involved in research for Brief Family Strategic Therapy (BSFT) clinical research funded by NIDA-CTN among Hispanic adolescents living in Puerto Rico. In addition, she was studying the effect of traumatic events on Hispanic women's coping strategies and drug use. After this, SAMHSA granted funds to treat women identified with substance use and other mental health disorders; and who have a history of trauma. Her experience working with Hispanic and Latino communities includes the managing of an educational curriculum focused on reducing the behavioral health disparities among the Latino population through training and technical assistance to strengthen and enhance service delivery, promote the growth of a diverse, culturally competent workforce, and bridge access to quality behavioral health services. This has been implemented through SAMHSA's Addiction Technology Transfer Centers and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers grants. She also led an educative initiative in the Psychological First Aid (PFA), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Curriculums. Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) to train first responders, parents, family members, caregivers, peers, neighbors, and any other adults to learn how to act as first-responders in the event of a mental health crisis in adolescents, elders, and veterans. In addition, Dr. Carrión is the Director of a community home-based project to enhance linkages and services for persons with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers in the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. She has publications on diverse topics related to her professional work.
Mirla Lopez, BA
Mirla Lopez was born in Mexico; she immigrated with her mother and younger brother when she was six years old and has lived in the United States for over 30 years. Ms. Lopez attended the University of Texas at Austin as an undocumented student and received her Bachelor of Arts in 2006. She has been involved in the immigrant's rights movement since 2004 and received her DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) in 2014. Ms. Lopez is the Program Manager for the Household Centered Care program at the University of Houston Graduate College of Medicine. In addition, she manages the Household Centered Care Healthy Connections program. She supervises 6 Community Health Workers who do direct home visits and case management with community members and students from Medicine, Social Work, and Nursing. In addition, she volunteers in several community organizations, specifically in community engagement, education, immigration, and college access. She is an avid reader and is currently in a fantasy and sci-fi phase.
Luz M López, PhD, MPH, MSW
Boston University School of Social Work
Luz M López, PhD, MPH, MSW - is a faculty member at Boston University School of Social Work, Director of the Global Health Core at the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health, and Director of the dual degree program in public health and social work. She has experience conducting prevention, education, and research in interpersonal violence, trauma, mental health, and substance use treatment with Latinos(as)/Latinx and other racial and ethnically diverse communities. She incorporates participatory community research, strength-based practices, and anti-violence pedagogy. Dr. López works with immigrants and refugees and provides culturally specific mental health and trauma training in partnership with Makarere University in Uganda; the Supremos Domestic Violence Program in Estelí, Nicaragua, and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Regional Multidisciplinary Faculty (UNAN-FAREM). She also leads an annual cultural immersion course for graduate students in Puerto Rico, where she was born and raised. Dr. López believes in culturally responsive partnerships to advance health equity, social work, and public health practices around the globe.
Maria Isabel Coss-Guzmán, PhD
Comisión para la Prevención del Suicidio
La Dra. María Isabel Coss Guzmán posee un doctorado en psicología clínica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras. Como parte de su trabajo de disertación llevó a cabo una investigación sobre el nivel de aceptación social hacia familias no convencionales. Completó su internado en psicología clínica en el Roberto Clemente Family Guidance Center en la ciudad de Nueva York, clínica de salud comunitaria adscrita a la red de hospitales públicos de Nueva York. Desde el año 2016, la Dra. Coss-Guzmán se desempeña como Psicóloga Consultora en la Comisión para la Prevención del Suicidio del Departamento de Salud, brindando asesoría en política pública en prevención de suicidio, diseñando y facilitando talleres sobre prevención de suicidio, asesorando sobre el Protocolo para la Prevención del Suicidio y publicando informes estadísticos mensuales sobre mortalidad por suicidio en Puerto Rico.
Azucena Ortiz, BA
Azucena Ortiz (Ella/she/her/they) brings 17 years of experience in personal growth/healing, supporting diverse communities of families and individuals; facilitating non-violent parenting classes, retreats, trauma-informed workshops interweaving connecting communication, embodied listening, healing-centered modalities, trauma-informed care, and embodiment practices. Her desire for her children to grow in a better world ignited her passion for healing and social justice, becoming her work and life journey. Her journey has led her to discover the complexity of relationships, intersectionality, and the impact of bigger systems. Azucena has a BA in Organizational Studies; for the last five years, she's worked as an independent consultant and co-founded Cambio Colectivo::Collective Change and The People's Resource Center. Azucena joined CMDC as a dance student in 2016, developing a passion for healing through movement. In 2017 she became a board member and facilitator of the Women's Empowerment program.
This event will be in Spanish. To see PowerPoint slides click on each presentation or click here.