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In response to the growing need for access to food at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, LHA partnered with local food banks to organize a weekly food distribution event, serving over 1,000 families. It is held every Friday at the LHA main building parking lot from 12 pm-4 pm and serves people walk-thru (12 pm-1:00 pm) and drive-thru (2 pm-4 pm).

Diapers are provided every second Friday of the month.

For inquiries call (714) 953-5900

Emotional Wellness is a department of Latino Health Access and is part of a holistic support component for the Orange Co community. Different types of cases with emotional difficulties are derived from it, which we will define later on this page.

Our Emotional Wellness programs, specifically in the area of case management, whether one-on-one meetings or the support groups are not provided by conventional therapies since they require various formalities to obtain the license. However, the community health workers “Promotores” are constantly trained in narrative therapy practices and other mental health knowledge that help them increase their expertise in the emotional well-being of the participants with considerable success. These Promotores live and work in the cities where their work is done, so they understand the resources and the barriers heir participants face.

As of July 2020, LHA houses the Downtown FRC, which provides an array of counseling and support services to families in Orange County with children 0-18 years old, and who may be at risk of or are experiencing child abuse and neglect. LHA and the Downtown FRC work as a team to provide the resources that our families need. These include information and referral services for family support, case management, counseling for individuals and families, personal empowerment, parenting classes, and support groups.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, in March of 2020 LHA launched a promotor-led emergency response initiative to aid the Santa Ana community during this turbulent time. The initiative allowed us to recruit, train, and equip community members to promote COVID-19 education in order to reduce the risk of transmission and have access to services such as testing and vaccination clinics. Through this effort LHA also established a bilingual COVID-19 information call center, mobile testing at schools, case management services, contact tracing, isolation and food delivery support, and cash assistance.

Health equity requires community-centered action and policy, systems, and environmental changes that improve quality of life and access to healthy choices for communities that have been historically disinvested.

The Diabetes Self-Management and Prevention Program (DSM) is Latino Health Access’s flagship program. As with all LHA programs, the need for Diabetes management and education arose due to the service gaps, inequities, and social determinants of health directly impacting the Latino community in Orange County. The curriculum was written by our CEO, Dr. America Bracho, a Certified Diabetes Educator and experienced Medical Doctor in Venezuela, and is designed to encourage participation through examples, role-playing, and allowing participants to share their experiences, challenges, and success. Since its inception in 1993, LHA has worked alongside community members to implement a comprehensive and culturally appropriate program that allows for an individualized diabetes-self- management plan for our participants. This grassroots effort has continuously helped countless participants for nearly 30 years to improve their A1c and reduce their risk for diabetes-related complications by adopting lifestyle changes, causing the results to be published in a scholarly journal.

LHA’s new Children & Youth Engagement (CYE) Department is a safe, fun, and inspiring space for children and youth to lead, grow, and activate their peers, families, and community to promote health equity, focusing on low-income, immigrant communities. The programs actively engage and support socio-emotional health, academic enrichment, recreational activities, leadership development, civic engagement, and policy advocacy. Activities are held virtually and in person.

Overview of the Promotor/ Community Worker Model Intended audience: Directors, managers, coordinators, supervisors, and clinic staff at Latino Health Access offers an interactive overview of the promotor model to institutions working or wanting to include Promotores in their teams and supervisors and administrators working with Promotores.

LHA worked for ten years to open the first park and community center in the 92701 zip code. Thanks to the generous partnership from Northgate Gonzalez Markets and the City of Santa Ana, we opened this green space in 1993.