Advocacy Approach, Coursework Example

My advocacy approach would be through the community health workers. These are the frontline health workers, who have exceptional clear understanding of the communities they serve. They provide a link between the communities and health care systems (Chowdhury et-al, 2006). The community health workers educate the communities on the health issues and present the need of the communities to the health care systems. We will use door-door mode of training with the CHW so as to educate as many people as possible.

Community Health Workers are in a unique position to liaise with the health providers and diabetes educators to advance the quality of care and education for the Black Americans in the urban areas. They already have the necessary training needed in diabetes advocacy. They can assist the communities prevent and control diabetes through advocating for a lifestyle change, social support, self-management and education. In addition, the Community Health Workers have a solid understanding of the cultural buffers like traditional health practices and cultural practices, which members use in promoting positive health outcomes and coping with stress. It is essential to contact the Community Health Workers urgently, so that advocacy can start immediately, since diabetes is on a rapid rise among the Black Americans in the urban areas (Lorig & Gonzalez, 2005).

To advocate for this issue, I would explain why the community health workers are in a better position to act as educators to the communities. They make daily interactions with the communities in their daily line of operation, and this makes it easier for them to educate as they undertake their other obligations (Chowdhury et-al, 2006). They recognize the people in the community with higher chances of getting diabetes based on the interactions. They understand the lifestyles of these people, and it would be easier for them to educate the community on changing to healthy lifestyles.

References

Norris, S., Chowdhury, F., Van Le, K., Horsley, T., Brownstein, J., Zhang, X. & Satterfield, D.W. (2006). Effectiveness of Community Health Workers in the Care of Persons With Diabetes. Diabetic Medicine.

Lorig, K. & Gonzalez, V.M. (2005). Community-Based Diabetes Self-Management Education:  Definition and Case Study. Diabetes Spectrum.