Reach 2010 Promoting Access to Health for Pacific Islanders and Southeast Asian Women: Voices From the Community

Publication Date: October 2004

Publisher: Special Service for Groups, Inc.

Author(s): Susan W. Lee; Marjorie Kagawa-Singer; Heng Lam Foong; Mary Anne Foo

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Asian American and Pacific Islander; Women; breast cancer; cervical cancer

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

REACH 2010-PATH for Women: VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY is a compilation of stories from the PATH for Women project as told by the many community-based project staff, including coordinators, health educators, and community outreach workers. They are the individuals who reach out to their communities every day to provide education, resources and hope to the many women they serve. Each of the staff from the PATH for Women project partner agencies wrote their own story in which they highlight the unique efforts they made to document the enormous community needs, the strengths and challenges of their work, the accomplishments that have been achieved thus far, and the ways in which they persevered over the course of the entire effort. Some of the stories focus mainly on education, outreach and navigation efforts to give the reader invaluable insights into the detailed processes involved in such labor-intensive work. Some of the stories focus on the organizational context in which programs were developed. And some of the stories are more policy oriented, introducing the reader to the systemic and environmental influences on health. All authors were encouraged to write on what they felt was important to highlight in their work. Each piece in this collection thus represents the personal experiences of the PATH for Women partners, and is an important illustration of the tremendous efforts, tenacity, and skills that are required to launch and sustain such deeply participatory efforts in diverse communities.

In sum, the PATH for Women project addressed health disparities in breast and cervical cancer among AAPI women. Over the course of our five-year effort, our community partners have developed strong relationships, created and linked numerous resources, and promoted and facilitated positive behavior change for better health. These are the stories from the individuals who made the entire effort such a success.