April 8, 2020 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
In addition to receiving two national awards from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs in 2019, PASOs was recently recognized with a third award from the Association. Last year, PASOs Health Connections was named a Best Practice for its effectiveness in improving public health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health for Latino communities across the state. PASOs Connections for Child Development received the Promising Practice designation for its current success based on established public health protocols, values, etc. and its potential for making an impact in the future of young Latino children and their preparation for kindergarten.
In 2020, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs honored PASOs Health Connections with the Contributes to Achieving Health Equity Award, one of the organization’s Innovation Station awards, which recognize especially innovative and effective practices in maternal and child health. Co-interim executive director Maria Martin received the award on behalf of PASOs.
“We are thrilled that PASOs’ flagship program, PASOs Health Connections, not only received a scoring and designation as a Best Practice last summer but has now received an additional special award,” says Martin. “I’d like to celebrate all of our team members – past and present – for their work in continuously developing, planning, implementing, measuring and evaluating the program for its impact through the 15 years we have been in existence and serving Latino families in our state.”
Working with Latino families and health and social service providers, PASOs (i.e., “steps” in Spanish) is a community organization specializing in promoting health, education, advocacy and leadership development to lead to healthier, stronger families. It was established in partnership with the Arnold School in 2005 has since grown to include 25 team members, 50 volunteer community health workers, 250 organizational partners, and a $1 million budget. PASOs serves more than 8,000 individuals across 25 counties in South Carolina.
PASOs Health Connections partners with local agencies and coalitions to improve access to culturally appropriate resources. Its primary function is to empower community health workers to work closely with Latino households to connect them with health, early childhood and other needed services. The community health workers also help individuals address social or environmental factors (e.g., connection to primary care, nutritional and social supports).
Related:
Two PASOs programs recognized by Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
PASOs and its leader receive awards for their contributions to the Latino community
Greenville County PASOs receives Greenville Health System Pillar Award