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The article offers information on the Dimensions of Community Capacity Model and Cultural Competence. Topics include the nine dimensions of community capacity, the three component areas of cultural competence, and the alignment of these dimensions with cultural competence. The article also discusses the application of the Dimensions of Community Capacity through community engaged projects, focusing on overcoming structural inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article focuses on the application and impact of three Dimensions of Community Capacity—Social and Interorganizational Networks, Participation and Leadership, and Resources through Community Health Worker (CHW) led projects in South Texas, U.S. It explores the positive experiences and benefits reported by CHWs, including enhanced collaboration, skill development, and trust within their networks.

The article explores the concept of community capacity and its dimensions, particularly in the context of cultural competence within community health. It delves into the background of the Dimensions of Community Capacity model, emphasizing the importance of focusing on community assets rather than deficits. It also provides insights into cultural competence, defining its components and discussing their relevance in fostering collaboration with communities.

The purpose of this convergent mixed methods interprofessional education (IPE) pilot project was to help health profession students gain valuable insight about the experiences of people living with mental illness, to help them have a better understanding of person-centered care and have greater knowledge about the importance of interprofessional collaboration. A developmental workgroup which consisted of mental health consumers, four interdisciplinary students, and our team developed and implemented a virtual Mental Health World Café IPE event. Twelve other students attended the World Café event. A paired sample t-test was used to examine group differences between pre- and post-test scores for the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale and the Texas AHEC Survey measures among the four student leaders and the 12 student participants of the virtual Mental Health World Cafe. We conducted individual interviews with the four student leaders and collected reflective journals from the 12 students who attended the World Café event. We examined to what extent the statistically significant quantitative results supported the qualitative results separately for the student leaders and for the student participants of the virtual World Café. We also examined how both the quantitative and qualitative findings aligned with the key components of the Patient-Centered Care in Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Model. While the project allowed the students to reflect upon how they may apply the principles of person-centered care and interprofessional collaboration, the impact of the consumers on the student's experiences was profound and resulted in widespread engagement of the students who attended the event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the authors discuss their virtual World Café project for health profession students enrolled in the South Texas Area Health Education Center (ST-AHEC) Scholars Program to help them engage in constructive dialogue, establish personal relationships, and foster collaborative learning. Also cited is how students can learn about the principle of person-centered mental health care from the experiences of people with serious mental illness.

The article discusses the effectiveness of using the community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles with community health workers (CHW) in translating English to Spanish language CHW COVID-19 & Health Inequities Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) program in South Texas. Other topics include the study on the effectiveness of the delivery of the CHWs of a diabetes education program.

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.

The article presents the discussion on COVID-19 and female domestic workers living on the Westside of San Antonio. Topics include social distancing, wearing a mask, shelter in place orders, virtual learning, being one most striking changes to employment; and working despite the high risk of contracting COVID-19 out of necessity and some being evicted from the homes due to an inability for paying rent.

The article presents the discussion on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic sweeping the country leading to significant community-wide disruptions in all sectors of public and private life. Topics include communities facing inadequate access to essential supplies such as food and diapers and reducing access to health care; and growing economic disparities, limited resources, and access to essential goods and healthcare services.

The article focuses on Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Adolescent Fathers during COVID-19. Topics discussed include the pandemic also has revealed inequities in certain populations, amplifying social and economic factors that further contribute to poor mental health outcomes; and the economic downturn in our country, unemployment, and widespread isolation are projected to contribute to "deaths of despair" associated with the pandemic.

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]

The article presents a study which examined the perceptions and beliefs of adolescent fathers about depression. Topics include the symptoms of paternal depression like weight gain/loss, sleep disturbance, social isolation, and fatigue or low energy, the possible factors of paternal depression like financial and employment challenges, and the participatory action research (PAR) approach used in the study.