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Description of Organization:
San Ysidro Health Center's mission is "to provide comprehensive physical and behavioral health services to residents throughout our community in a culturally and linguistically competent manner." SYHC is located in the South Region of San Diego County, CA, with its main clinic less than one mile from the US-Mexico border. SYHC was founded in 1969 by a local women's organization that recognized the need for accessible, affordable, quality health services in their community, especially prenatal and pediatric care services. The health center incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 1971, and the original clinic was built the following year. Since its inception, SYHC has grown to be the major "safety net" provider in San Diego's South Region, serving more than 52,000 registered patients annually through an interdisciplinary continuum of primary care services delivered via a community-based service network consisting of four primary care clinics, two dental clinics, three family-oriented behavioral programs and four WIC Nutrition Centers. In addition, SYHC also houses the Center for Latino Research and Health Promotion, which was developed as a pilot project in June 2004 and has grown to encompass a wide array of research and health promotion programs for maternal and child health, pediatrics, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity prevention, health education, mental health and geriatric services.

Description of project:
SYHC's Salsa en la Comunidad Program is a diabetes and cardiovascular risk factor screening and education program that seeks to: (1) improve Latinos' knowledge about disparities related to diabetes, heart disease and stroke; (2) improve Latinos' access and utilization of preventive screening/testing; (3) link underserved and at-risk Latinos to a "medical home" for ongoing primary care services and follow-up; (4) improve biological risk factors and (5) reduce socio-cultural and linguistic barriers to healthcare. In order to achieve these goals, the staff is responsible for coordinating and conducting education sessions, providing community outreach and conducting free health screenings and referring patients to care at one of SYHC's four primary care centers, Imperial Beach Health Center, the collaborative partner on the grant, or their own primary care provider. Participants who are determined to be at-risk will also be entered into a Patient Navigator program, and receive a referral into some of the health promotion programs currently offered by SYHC, or our collaborative partner, San Diego State University's Center for Behavioral and Community Health.

Link:
Grantee Success Story