Research, Policy & Practice LCH

This 3-year research project seeks to improve access to quality depression care for rural Latinos by addressing the shortage of Latinx paraprofessional providers who can deliver culturally tailored evidence-based treatment. In partnership with Heritage University and the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, we will provide specialized curriculum in mental health to 8-10 BASW students at Heritage University and train them in the use of a known effective telephone-based intervention for depression. We will test two training strategies: 1) the traditional approach and 2) a computerized approach and assess the effectiveness of these respective training approaches in equipping the paraprofessionals to reduce patient symptomatology. This grant is one of three projects of a center grant, UW ALACRITY Center for Psychosocial Interventions Research, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Pat Arean, Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Ramirez's K12 research study will leverage the existing infrastructure of an ongoing research study led by Dr. Robert Penfold at Kaiser Permanente Washington. The study is testing an evidence-based program that provides digital and self-directed educational materials to family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The digital training materials teach family caregivers how to manage the mood and behavior challenges of their loved ones with ADRD. The aims of Dr. Ramirez's K12 study are to: (1) specify family caregiver requirements for the design of the digital training materials, (2) examine how to adapt the digital training materials to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for Latino family caregivers, and (3) assess family caregiver perceptions of the ease-of-use and usefulness of the digital training materials and how these perceptions influence acceptance of the program.