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Objective: To examine how the COVID‐19 Project ECHO program may have influenced the mental health of community health workers (CHWs) from South Texas. The program was designed around case‐based learning and mentorship to provide support to CHWs and help them gain expertise to provide services to their communities. Design: An explanatory sequential mixed methods pilot study. Sample: Fifteen CHWs who were enrolled in the program participated in this study. Measurements: The Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression (CES‐D) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used to measure the differences pre‐ and post‐intervention. Qualitative description was used to explore the experiences of the participating CHWs. Results: The PSS post‐test mean (12.53) showed a statistically significant decrease from the pretest mean (17.01) (t (14 = 2.456, p =.028). The CHWs explained that the death of loved ones, feelings of isolation, and work‐related concerns influenced their mental health. CHWs expressed that the program provided them with emotional support and resources for their clients. Conclusions: The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on disadvantaged and medically underserved areas will be long‐lasting; therefore, the need is greater than ever for CHWs to receive mental health support and be able to connect communities with vital resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issues in the war on drugs in the U.S., particularly on the efforts to reduce substance use disorder (SUD) health inequalities within Latino communities in south Texas. Other topics include the adverse effects of SUDs like opioid use disorder (OUD) on communities, the strategies to mitigate OUD-related deaths like boosting access to naloxone and medication assisted treatment (MAT), and the community-driven public health strategies to prevent the causes of addiction.

Objectives: This study examined how the effects of the COVID‐19 crisis has impacted young Hispanic fathers. Design/Sample: Using qualitative description, in‐depth interviews were conducted among Hispanic fathers between the ages of 18 and 24 years, from community‐based fatherhood program. The interviews of seven young Hispanic fathers were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The participants' initial and ongoing fears about COVID‐19 resulted from not having adequate information about the severity of the disease and how easily one can contract and transmit it to others. They also expressed concerns about the threat of the pandemic on their family's well‐being, finances, and employment status. Providing for their families was their main priority, with some continuing to work, despite the risks of becoming infected with COVID‐19. Despite their many hardships, fathers found strength in their families and remained hopeful in overcoming the challenges during the pandemic. Conclusions: The pandemic has presented difficulties and loss for many. Nurses in the community are well positioned to serve young Hispanic fathers to ensure their needs are met. A family‐centered approach is ideal for young fathers to provide them equal opportunity to be actively involved in promoting health for themselves and their families during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]