Increasing Health Equity for Hispanics with or at Risk for Diabetes in High Need Counties on the Texas-Mexico Border. - The University of Texas (UT) Health Houston School of Public Health (SPH) in Brownsville will respond to Component B in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) by prioritizing the low-income Hispanic population in three high need counties in the Rio Grande Valley: Cameron (population 423,029), Hidalgo (pop. 880,356), and Willacy (pop. 20,316). The total population of these three counties is 1,323,701, exceeding the required minimum population of 350,000. UTSPH has nearly 20 years of experience partnering with community-based organizations in these three counties on diabetes prevention efforts. The proposed program will greatly expand these efforts, with a goal of decreasing risk for type 2 diabetes for Hispanics in the region while addressing the health inequalities present in these communities. UTSPH has selected the following four strategies from the NOFO: 3. Prevent diabetes complications for priority populations through early detection 5. Increase enrollment and retention of priority populations in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle intervention and the MDPP by improving access, appropriateness, and feasibility of the programs 8. Implement, spread, and sustain one of the following evidence-based, family-centered childhood obesity interventions: Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do It! (MEND) - community-based 13. Improve the capacity of the diabetes workforce to address factors related to the SDOH that impact health outcomes for priority populations with and at risk for diabetes UTSPH has identified five community-based organizations with the experience and capacity to meet this goal: Su Clinica, Hope Family Health Center, Brownsville Community Health Clinic, Proyecto Juan Diego, and Brownsville Wellness Coalition. This coalition will be further assisted by UTSPH's Collaborative Action Board (CAB), which consists of 100+ organizations focused on improving health outcomes in the Rio Grande Valley. Specific strategies will include improving early diabetes screening, increasing enrollment in evidence-based lifestyle change programs (National DPP and MEND), and coordinating the strategies of local CBOs to address SDOH barriers to diabetes prevention. UTSPH will achieve the following outcomes by the end of the grant period: - Increase in the number of organizations implementing evidence-based community behavioral change programs by 7 - Increased adaptation/tailoring of National DPP and MEND for priority populations - 15,000 patients with diabetes will receive the diabetic retinopathy and CKD screening tests in community health care organizations - Train 45 CBO staff on SDOH strategies - Increase in the number of patients screened and referred to community resources (i.e., health/mental health resources) by 500 - Increased participation in evidence-based community behavioral change programs (National DPP and MEND) by 1,200
