Dear Behavioral Health Provider,
I am pleased to the announce that the American Public Health Association (APHA) Latino Caucus’ executive committee recently decided to forge a partnership with the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Toma las riendas: Infórmate. Compara. Prepárate. initiative. This initiative, sponsored by AHRQ’s Effective Health Care (EHC) Program, provides free Spanish-language evidence-based resources to help Latino patients better understand their health conditions, prepare for medical appointments, and explore and compare treatments options for health conditions ranging from heart disease and diabetes to depression.
To prepare these resources, AHRQ conducts systematic reviews of available research to compare the effectiveness, benefits, and potential risks of different treatment options: drugs, medical devices, tests, surgeries, or delivery methods. These evidence-based findings are synthesized into comprehensive reports and translated into plain-language summaries for both clinicians and patients. Continuing education credits and slide libraries on patient-centered outcomes research are also available.
As part of this effort, AHRQ established a national network of partner organizations that serve Hispanics, including the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Latina Health Network.
The APHA Latino Caucus for Public Health has joined AHRQ’s national network of partners to share the Agency’s growing inventory of free research reports and tools to help our members and educate Latinos about treatment options for different medical conditions and make informed decisions about their care.
You can view these tools on the AHRQ’s new Spanish-language website, www.ahrq.gov/salud or order free printed copies of their treatment summaries by calling 800–358–9295 and using code C-01.
Thanks,
Dennis
Dennis O. Romero, MA
Regional Administrator
Region II (NJ, NY, PR, U.S. VI)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3337
New York, New York 10278
Phone: 212-264-8097
Fax: 212-264-2673
E-mail: dennis.romero@samhsa.hhs.gov
Website: www.samhsa.gov /1-877-726-4727
Behavioral Health is Essential To Health • Prevention Works • Treatment is Effective • People Recover
