Successes and Barriers Identified by Public Health Professionals Engaging Hispanic Communities

The United States is experiencing a demographic shift in ethnicity and race with the largest increase occurring among Hispanics. Research indicates that Hispanic populations are disproportionately impacted by diverse health outcomes and have lower utilization rates of formal health services than non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). There is a lack of published studies describing best practices pertaining to implementing public health programming in Hispanic communities. This study seeks to identify successes and barriers related to engaging members of Hispanic communities in public health systems. Qualitative data were collected by conducting interviews with eight (n = 8) public health professionals working closely with Hispanic communities in the United States. Four key themes emerged: First, public health professionals emphasized the importance of engaging trusted social networks and building rapport within Hispanic communities to facilitate program acceptance. Second, community outreach strategies involved going to the community and identifying their specific needs by partnering with trusted organizations. Third, developing a cultural understanding of barriers and maintaining a cultural lens when interacting with Hispanic communities was essential to addressing the needs of Hispanic communities. Fourth, the intersection of cultural competency and language highlighted the need for a nuanced approach to developing culturally resonant messaging that involved collaboration with Indigenous staff, partners, and the Hispanic community. This study contributes to the existing knowledge of Hispanic programming by highlighting the importance of cultural competence, rapport building, and the utilization of trusted social networks and bilingual/bicultural staff in implementing public programs within Hispanic communities.