Our Work
Services
Navigation & Case Management
We offer personalized guidance to help community members access healthcare, social services, and community programs.
Culturally Appropriate Health Education
We provide evidence-based workshops focusing on healthy living, preventive care, and chronic disease management.
Health
Promotion
We design culturally relevant health materials that promote our Healthy Lifestyles program and raise awareness of key health issues impacting our community.
Health Disparities Research
We support Community-Engaged Research (CER) to address critical health needs, identify systemic barriers, and elevate Hispanic voices, ensuring research is ethical, inclusive, and actionable for community change.
Cultural Humility
Training
We provide cultural humility training for health professionals and community health workers, enhancing their knowledge, awareness, and self-efficacy to engage effectively with diverse communities and improve patient care.
Collaborations and Partners
La Casa de la Salud (LCS) collaborates with a broad network of healthcare systems, academic institutions, faith-based organizations, and public health agencies to improve access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health services for underserved communities.
2015 - 2018
LCS has partnered with AHA since 2015 to raise awareness about hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and other heart conditions by conducting screenings, distributing printed AHS Spanish educational pamphlets, and referrals to appropriate health services. During our joint actions, LCS conducted demonstrations of a variety of nutritious foods and facilitated educational sessions that allow people to develop a healthy eating plan while maintaining calorie requirements and personal and cultural food preferences.
LCS began its collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health in 2015 to create awareness about public health programs to prevent chronic diseases in the Hispanic Community. This partnership makes it possible for LCS to be present at workshops, health fairs, and diverse events for the Hispanic Community.
Since 2016 the group of health promoters has participated in events at St. Augustine’s Church conducting blood pressure screenings and referring those in need to low-cost clinics. They also provide healthy lifestyle advice and distribute educational material.
Since 2018, LCS has worked with Daily Planet on multiple initiatives including COVID-19 vaccination clinics, referrals to primary care services, and providing interpretation and culturally appropriate assistance. LCS is also working on referring men for the early detection of colorectal cancer.
The Richmond Memorial Health Foundation was LCS’s first supporter. It provided fund through a grant. RMHF is still a committed supporter of LCS’ mission and efforts.
LCS refers individuals with urgent oral health needs to VCU School of Dentistry which offers comprehensive dental care. They provide services for urgent, general, and specialized dentistry including pediatric, orthodontic, root canals, and oral surgery.
2019 - 2022
This project supports COVID-19 and influenza vaccine confidence and access among Latino communities through Community Health Workers, Influential Messengers, and trusted community partners. LCS focuses on culturally responsive education, expanding access to vaccination services, and strengthening community-based outreach through partnerships, data-informed strategies, and community-centered communication efforts.
La Casa de la Salud participated in a citywide initiative focused on advancing health literacy and improving access to healthcare services for low-income Latino communities in Richmond. This collaborative effort addressed systemic barriers such as transportation, language access, and healthcare navigation, while supporting culturally responsive education and peer-based outreach in priority neighborhoods. Through this initiative, LCS supported community education, resource navigation, and outreach efforts aimed at helping residents better understand, access, and advocate for their health and well-being.
This initiative expands access to genetic education, cancer risk screening, and counseling for Latina women at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Through bilingual outreach and navigation, the program increases awareness of genetic testing, connects women to clinical services, and empowers families with knowledge to make informed health decisions.
2023 - 2025
Community Health Needs Assessment:
- La Casa de la Salud supported the Cameron Foundation’s CHNA by providing Spanish translation of surveys and materials, ensuring cultural relevance and accuracy. We also helped engage Spanish-speaking community members through focus groups, contributing to a more inclusive assessment of community health needs.
La Casa de la Salud collaborated with Bon Secours to engage Latino patients in the CHNA process, ensuring their voices and experiences were included. Our work helped identify community health priorities and inform future programs and resource planning for underserved families.
La Casa de la Salud participated as a community partner in the Virginia Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities, supporting outreach, health education, and access to prevention resources for Latino communities.
La Casa de la Salud (LCS) was selected to support a CDC-funded initiative led by the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) due to its expertise in language access. As part of this project, LCS delivered Spanish-language training and translated public health materials to ensure culturally relevant and accessible information for Latino communities.
La Casa de la Salud participated in a community-based project to assess behavioral health needs among Spanish-speaking Latino residents. Our efforts helped identify barriers to care and inform the development of culturally appropriate, Spanish-language behavioral health programs.
General operating support strengthens La Casa de la Salud’s core services, including bilingual navigation through the resource line, trusted health communication via Facebook Live and outreach events, and chronic disease education workshops. This flexible funding allows LCS to expand community impact and respond to emerging needs.
La Casa de la Salud (LCS) was selected to support a HRSA-funded initiative in collaboration with the IPHI Academy, based on its expertise in language access, Community Health Worker (CHW) Spanish-language training, and mentorship for Hispanic/Latino CHW programs in identified priority areas across Virginia. As part of this project, LCS facilitated Spanish-language training using the IPHI Academy curriculum, supported outreach and promotion of CHW core competency trainings, and provided mentorship to strengthen Hispanic/Latino CHW programs.
To collaborate with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to strengthen the Medicaid Member Advisory Committee (MAC) through participation in the LCS–DMAS Collaborative.
Through partnership with Sentara hospitals in Virginia Beach and Harrisonburg. This project expands La Casa de la Salud’s CHW model to improve health education and access to care. The initiative supports bilingual outreach, chronic disease prevention education, vaccine awareness, and culturally grounded health promotion. It also strengthens partnerships, trains influential messengers, and develops tailored health materials for Latino communities.
Improving Latino Chronic Disease Outcomes and Access to Care. This initiative helps Latino families in Central Virginia prevent and manage chronic disease by offering culturally tailored health workshops, a bilingual resource line, and community outreach events. Participants also receive ongoing support through the Healthy Lifestyles WhatsApp channel and website, providing practical guidance on nutrition, physical activity, and emotional well-being. The program strengthens access to healthcare and empowers families to lead healthier lives.
In partnership with Bon Secours St. Francis Family Medicine OBGYN Clinic, this initiative supports uninsured pregnant and postpartum Latinas by providing culturally responsive assessments and navigation services. Through close collaboration with clinic staff, including the onsite social worker, Community Health Workers connect patients to essential health and social resources, provide referrals through Unite Us, and track resource gaps impacting uninsured Latino families.
This project enhances support for Latino cancer patients by addressing social determinants of health, including transportation, housing, food access, financial assistance, and care navigation. Community Health Workers provide tailored outreach and guidance to help patients access vital cancer treatment and support services.
This program equips Community Health Workers with science-based training to engage adults in informed vaccine conversations. CHWs learn strategies to address hesitancy, reduce barriers to vaccination, recognize readiness for vaccination, and build trust through culturally appropriate education, helping strengthen vaccine confidence in Latino and rural communities.
La Casa de la Salud collaborated with VCU to develop bilingual educational tools, facilitate community focus groups, and support public health learning opportunities. These efforts strengthened community engagement in research, elevated community voices, and built a foundation for sustainable, collaborative projects.
This fellowship builds long-term organizational capacity by supporting leadership development, financial strategy, and organizational growth. Through coaching and peer learning, La Casa de la Salud strengthens its ability to expand services and sustainability in the community.
In partnership with the Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building, La Casa de la Salud hosts AmeriCorps members who are trained as Community Health Workers. Members support navigation services, community outreach, and one-on-one education on nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and mental health literacy, building a stronger local workforce and expanding access to culturally competent care.
Past Collaborations
Pilot Program for a Healthy Latino Community
This pilot project was launched with the Daily Planet Clinic, the American Heart Association, and the Sacred Heart Center with the objectives of 1) facilitating access to health services, 2) following up on those referred for high blood pressure or some other health high-risk issues, and 3) educating of Hispanic families with health information and skills for the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.
The strategy consisted of training 5 health promoters to facilitate access to health services and conducting educational workshops on the preparation of healthy recipes and foods and creating a Zumba group as physical activity. As a result, 418 blood pressure measurements were taken and 107 were referred to the Daily Planet clinic. Another 15 people were referred for other reasons. For the healthy lifestyle component, 109 surveys focused on physical activity and nutrition were carried out. Subsequently, 5 workshops for the preparation of healthy food recipes and 5 Zumba activities were implemented during the pilot project for a total of 63 participants.
Ventanilla de la Salud with the Consulate of Mexico
The Consulate of Mexico provides its consular services through mobile consulate units to the Mexican population in several cities in Virginia and the United States. La Ventanilla de Salud is a service of the consulate that disseminates information about preventive services and referrals to free or low-cost clinics in the Washington DC area. For several years, when visiting the City of Richmond and Petersburg, LCS facilitated and coordinated these services in conjunction with other organizations.
The Petersburg Oral Health Engagement Project
LCS initially conducted a survey for research purposes on behalf of The Petersburg Wellness Consortium (PWC). The survey sought to learn more about people’s experiences with their oral health. The information obtained was used to 1) better understand oral health needs in Petersburg, and 2) identify opportunities to educate and raise awareness about the importance of oral health as part of overall health and wellness. Subsequently, LCS carried out educational interventions and facilitate access to dental services at a low cost.
Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
LCS and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences of Virginia Commonwealth University worked in collaboration so that students of Community Health Education, Health Sciences, and Physical Exercise Sciences had the opportunity to acquire the necessary clinical experience, as well as clinical education, as established in the curriculum.
Crater Health District’s (VDH)
LCS received financial resources to improve the Crater Health District’s response capacity in its mission of promoting education and awareness in the Latino community about the prevention of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. LCS developed mechanisms for the identification of chronic diseases in the community and referrals to the different health services and other resources in the Petersburg area.
Program of Community Health Workers
Community Health Workers are members of the community who help LCS provide basic preventive health care through preventative, promotional, and rehabilitation information. Since 2016, the group of health promoters has participated in events at the Church of San Agustin taking blood pressure, and referring those who need access to low-cost clinics. They also provide advice on a healthy lifestyle and distribute educational material.
Programs and Services
Programs
LCS empowers community members to be actively involved in managing or self-caring for chronic conditions. LCS provides access to patient education, and advocacy for lifestyle changes, and supports individuals to develop the skills needed for the effective management and control of chronic diseases.
Tomando Control de Su Salud is a nationally approved workshop designed for Spanish-speaking adults living with one or more chronic diseases who wish to take control of their health by learning effective self-management techniques. Our goal is to deliver a culturally appropriate workshop for the Latin community in Richmond to teach individuals effective skills to actively identify challenges and solve problems associated with their chronic illnesses.
Chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and cancer are more prevalent in minority groups including Hispanics when compared to Non-Hispanic Whites.
Tomando Control targets the Latin community who do not have easy access to preventive services and self-management education courses. Participants will learn self-care, choose their own personal health goals, and receive the encouragement they need to create a personalized step-by-step health and behavioral plan to address modifiable risk factors to lead a healthy life.
In summary, the Tomando Control workshop will educate people about adopting healthier lifestyle habits including better nutrition options, and physical activity, and understanding different options for treatment and self-care.
Our CHWs conduct free blood pressure readings to identify individuals with elevated blood pressure, raise awareness, educate them about management and control strategies, and make the appropriate referrals to primary healthcare clinics. The effectiveness of community-based interventions and CHWs have been demonstrated to reduce hypertension disparities in ethnic minority populations in the United States. With the support of the American Heart Association, our CHWs distribute printed educational materials in Spanish about hypertension and other heart-related diseases.
Screening of Latina women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. In partnership with VCU and Georgetown University, our CHWs screen Latina women eligible to enroll in a clinical trial to enhance the uptake of genetic counseling and testing.
Screening of colorectal cancer. LCS collaborates with Daily Planet and Massey Cancer Center in local initiatives. While these organizations are responsible for the actual screening and administrative aspects of this initiative, LCS is a bridge between the community and the clinics, facilitating communication between the parties to reduce access barriers. We also conduct follow-up calls to make sure that eligible individuals schedule, follow preparation instructions, and complete the colonoscopy. LCS is very proud of working toward the early detection of colorectal cancer in the Hispanic community and reducing the disparities in incidence and mortality.
Services
Nos enfocamos en alinear las prioridades del sistema de salud con las necesidades de la comunidad latina
Explora todos los proyectos y logros de La Casa de la Salud.
Nosotros
La Casa De La Salud fue creada en 2014 como resultado de un estudio piloto en The Department of epidemiology and Public Health en Virginia Commonwealth University basado en las necesidades de la comunidad Hispana. Fue lanzada en la ciudad de Petersburg Virginia como una iniciativa para eliminar barreras en el acceso a informacion, servicios y programas de salud. En el mismo año se convirtio en organizacion sin animo de lucro conformada por un equipo multidisciplinario para alinear nuestros programas con las politicas del sistema de salud y mejorar la calidad de vida de la comunidad Hispana.
Misión
Nuestra misión es contribuir al mejoramiento de la salud y bienestar de la comunidad Hispana a través de un modelo que permite promover estilos de vida saludable y facilita el acceso a servicios de salud y otros recursos.
Estrategia
LCS promueve acciones en alianza con líderes y promotores de salud en coordinacion con otras organizaciones y agencias para satisfacer las necesidades de la comunidad.