EMPOWERING RURAL HEALTH: CULTURALLY INFORMED SPEECH THERAPY TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Major Goal:The overarching goal of our Phase I proposal is to establish and validate an innovative content creation and service delivery model that leverages Community Health Workers (CHWs) to provide crucial support to underserved families in rural communities. This model aims to empower CHWs through comprehensive virtual training, enabling them to offer culturally and linguistically tailored online content to at risk populations. Our aim is to create a cost-effective, culturally responsive, repeatable process for developing resources for caregivers of children at risk for developmental delays, augmenting traditional services, and narrowing health disparities and inequities in underserved communities.Objectives:Develop Culturally and Linguistically Tailored Content: We will demonstrate the feasibility of creatingcontent for caregivers that is both culturally and linguistically appropriate, and replicable in terms of process and cost-efficiency. This involves overcoming challenges related to diverse parental preferences, cultural backgrounds, and linguistic needs, and establishing strategies for cost-effective content creation.Develop Comprehensive Virtual Training for CHWs: Our second objective is to create an effective virtual training program for CHWs. This includes understanding CHW preferences and requirements for virtual training and integrating various multimedia elements to enhance engagement. Accessibility for a diverse range of learners will be a key focus.Pilot Study to Test Feasibility and Acceptability: The third objective involves conducting a pilot study to test the overall feasibility and acceptability of the service delivery model. This will measure parent participation levels and assess the acceptability of the tailored content among families with diverse backgrounds.In conclusion, our project ambitiously seeks to innovate in the realm of content creation and delivery methods. Our goal is to develop, test, and refine a model that enables the rapid generation of effective, tailored training and resources. This approach is designed to cater to a wide variety of communities and peoples, addressing their unique cultural and linguistic needs. By doing so, we aim to significantly enhance the reach and impact of early intervention services, particularly in underserved rural areas. This initiative represents not just a step forward in service delivery, but a leap towards inclusivity, responsiveness, and adaptability in meeting the diverse needs of families requiring developmental support.