Cafecitos: Culturally Tailored Health Education
Hispanic and Latino communities face a disproportionate burden of chronic disease, which research suggests could be reduced through culturally tailored community-based interventions. Cafecitos is a monthly, bilingual health education program designed to promote wellness, chronic disease prevention, and community engagement via informal discussions.
Program Design and Implementation
Session Structure
Monthly cafecitos were held in collaboration with a senior-focused primary care clinic. Sessions were guided by national health observances and participant interests, including stress management, health technology, heart health, and nutrition.
Each hour-long session was delivered in-person through interactive, bilingual activities, emphasizing hands-on peer-to-peer learning.
Students, CHWs, and clinic staff co-facilitated sessions, providing learning opportunities for students to practice health communication and community engagement.
Key Activities
- Health Education
- Distribution of health promotion tools
- Stress management
- Learning about Safe Health technology
- Heart health e.g. Interpreting lipid profiles
- Practicing balanced meal planning
- Exchanging culturally relevant healthy recipes
2025 Results and Impact
47
Participants
In 2025, attendance grew from April through September 2025, with sustained engagement and a core group of regulars
74%
Female Attendees
Predominantly female participation, highlighting community engagement patterns
4.8/5
Knowledge Increase
Participants reported feeling more informed about health topics after attending
4.9/5
Session Quality
Rated sessions as relevant and easy to understand
Attendees were predominantly Spanish-speaking (49%) and/or bilingual (51%).
Community Impact
Cafecitos demonstrates the value of culturally tailored, community-based health promotion as a strategy for reducing health disparities.
Workforce Development
Future health professionals practiced delivering culturally competent care while community members engaged in practical health education.
Replicable Model
These components offer a potentially replicable model for integrating prevention, education, and workforce development in Hispanic and Latino communities.