Human Services

The growth in both the prevalence and spending on chronic diseases in the U.S. population has trigged an increased appreciation of the potential for preventive services as important strategies to delay or avoid the development of harmful and costly conditions.

 

This report examines the long-term sustainability and impact of community coalitions that were funded by the Community Access Program (CAP) and its successor, the Healthy Communities Access Program (HCAP).

This brief identifies several promising practices that can help overcome access barriers. A consistent theme is the crucial role played by community-based organizations (CBOs) in effectively addressing barriers related to complicated application processes, and issues of language, literacy, fear, and mistrust.

This brief identifies several factors that contribute to lower application and take-up rates among eligible immigrants, including: (1) the complexity of the application process and eligibility rules; (2) related administrative burdens; (3) language, literacy, and cultural barriers; (4) transportation and other logistical challenges; and (5) climates of fear and mistrust. [19 PDF pages]

Prepared by: Alvaro Cortes, Ph.D., Lauren Dunton, M.P.P, Meghan Henry, M.A., Howard Rolston, Ph.D., and Jill Khadduri, Ph.D. Contributing Authors: Tom Albanese, Katherine Dahlem, Emily Holt, Ruby Jennings, Jill Spangler, Matt White, and Erin Wilson

Jonathan D. Brown, Allison Barrett, Henry Ireys, Emily Caffery, and Kerianne Hourihan Mathematica Policy Research April 9, 2012