Campensinos Sin Fronteras

331 West Main Street
P.O. Box 423
Somerton, AZ 85350

The overall goals of the Soul, Heart and Life Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program are to decrease the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including the health risks and implications of obesity and overweight among farm worker families; and increase farmworker families’ access and utilization of culturally and linguistically sensitive health care services.

The project focuses on farm working families, with particular emphasis on women and children who reside in the rural farm worker communities of San Luis, Gadsden, Somerton, Yuma, Welton, Tacna and Dateland, in Yuma County Arizona. Trained Promotoras are utilized to reach and provide cardiovascular disease education to the target population. “Intensive Interventions,” involving completion of the Su Corazon, Su Vida Curriculum (developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute), are conducted in participants’ homes, at local churches, and at community centers. The curriculum includes such topics as: Who’s at Risk of CVD; Staying Physically Active; Maintaining a Healthy Weight; Eating Healthier for your Heart; and Enjoying a Tobacco Free Life. Promotoras also contact farm workers in the agricultural fields and agricultural pick-up sites, as well as community events, school migrant parent meetings, or other farm worker gathering places and provide brief one-on-one or group interventions. Other project activities include health fairs, where participants are screened for high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and body mass index; recruited for intensive educational sessions; and, if necessary, provided referrals and assistance in accessing medical services. Promotoras encourage participation in physical activities, such as low impact aerobics and walking clubs, encourage formation of weight maintenance clubs, and refer participants to smoking cessation classes. The program is promoted through flyers, brochures, and local radio and televison Public Service Announcement, and community talk shows.