The Affordable Care Act (ACA) or health reform gives the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a strong base upon
which to implement programs that will promote health equity
among racial and ethnic groups. And of one the actions HHS is
taking is to develop the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and
Ethnic Health Disparities. In this strategy and action plan, HHS
recognizes the strong role promotoras de salud play in
communities across the country to promote health and wellness.
HHS specifically recognizes the contributions promotoras make in
Latino communities, who have less access to health care services
and insurance. Promotoras de salud are community health workers
who live in, engage with and understand their communities and
connect members of the community to health care services and
health information in culturally and linguistically competent
ways. The HHS Action Plan calls for the increased “use of
promotoras to promote participation in health education,
behavioral health education, prevention a