Fostering Strategic Partnerships to Advance Access to Healthcare Among Georgia’s Latino Community

The Latino population in Georgia has grown significantly in the latter part of the twentieth century, and currently constitutes 10% of the state. Despite their contributions to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the state, Latinos face challenges in accessing healthcare and attaining health equity. These challenges arise from disparities in financial circumstances, language barriers, immigration status, and other similar social and political determinants of health. The concerted efforts of nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions have attempted to mitigate some of these inequities. One such example is the partnership between Latino Community Fund (LCF) Georgia and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Among other things, this collaboration provides immersive learning experiences to nursing, and other allied health students, as well as training to essential community health workers, a much-needed part of the United States healthcare workforce. Another exemplar is the Emory Farmworker Project (EFP), a longstanding program at Emory University that provides medical services to migrant farmworkers, tackling issues of healthcare access, health literacy, and other health disparities. Through collaborations with community partners, EFP provides healthcare to a marginalized group in the state and also fosters critical public health and leadership skills among participating students. Both partnerships underscore the significance of cooperation, evidence-based decision-making, and advocacy for policy improvements and reform. By implementing just and informed practices in community engagement, the goal of these programs and the partnerships they exemplify is to usher in a more equitable healthcare landscape for Latinos in Georgia.