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From September 2004 ��� April 2005, a six-member graduate student team from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted an Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) with the Latino Community (LC) of Northern Orange County (NOC). An AOCD examines the quality of life, community capacity, and strengths and needs of a community. Two preceptors from the Orange County Public Health Department mentored the student team throughout this process. The students interviewed 67 community members and service providers in both individual and group interview settings. Additional information was collected using secondary data sources and participant observations by the student team. The students presented the results at a community forum held in Hillsborough, North Carolina on April 9, 2005. Major topics that were discussed and addressed at the forum include transportation, adult education, linguistically and culturally competent service providers, a central location for information, and dental care. Below, a summary of the themes and the key action steps that were laid out at the community forum are listed (note Appendix F): There is a lack of public transportation in Northern Orange County. 1. Develop bilingual pamphlets about existing public transportation in Northern Orange County and distribute them to churches and social service agencies serving Latinos. 2. The Department of Transportation will hold a forum to inform Latinos of the extended bus routes that are scheduled to take effect in January 2006. 3. A bilingual community member will attend the Department of Transportation (DOT) board meetings. The Latino community needs more dental services that are affordable. 1. Hold dental screening and cleaning for preschoolers. 2. Publicize this and other events through a network of Promotores de Salud (community members who have received training in health education) as well as churches serving Latinos. 3. Latino community members will help the dental clinic to demonstrate the need for more dental services that are affordable. There is a need for a central location in Northern Orange County that provides the Latino community with information about existing social and health services. 1. Establish a planning committee. 2. Speak to libraries, schools, churches, and county commissioners about office space. 3. Coordinate a petition from the community and service providers. There is a need for more service providers in Northern Orange County with linguistic and cultural competency. 1. Invite the following agencies to learn how to recruit bilingual service providers: Orange County Health Department Medical Clinic in Hillsborough. Orange County Health Department Dental Clinic in Hillsborough. Orange County Department of Social Services. Day cares. Schools (parent/teacher conferences). Police. Courts. 2. Plan and hold job fairs. 3. Share resources and bilingual personnel between towns and counties. 4. Increase English as a Second Language (ESL) educational opportunities. 5. Offer free Spanish classes to personnel in agencies serving a large number of Latinos. There is a need for more adult education in Northern Orange County, such as ESL classes and job skills training. 1. Ask about possible locations for ESL classes. 2. Ask the following people and places for information and help: Teachers and schools. Social service agencies. Day cares. County politicians |
