Passport to Healthy Aging: Elder Multicultural Access and Support Services

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Diversity of cultures makes our nation rich and strong. However, it can also make it hard to reach everyone with one style. San Diego County is home to many immigrants and refugees, who often fail to navigate our public services system successfully due to pre-established cultural perspectives, especially the older adults. When needs arise, they may not know where to start, or how. Increasing access to, and education about, strategies to improve mental and physical health is a good investment in the community. But the challenge is to reach these individuals in a manner that will facilitate acceptance and empower them to live in the most healthful way. In an effort to decrease service disparities to under served cultural groups and improve the quality of life for seniors, County mental health workers took a grassroots approach and developed Passport to Healthy Aging: Elder Multicultural Access and Support Services (EMASS). The county adopted the “promotora” model of outreach, a Latin American approach that uses community peer workers. EMASS targets older adults to enable timely identification, intervention, and prevention of mental health issues. Trained community members provide, education, advocacy, mentoring, and linkage to services such as physical care and transportation resources; and its working.