Co-designing the Family Wellbeing Program to Address Mental Health Disparities in a Latino Community: Lessons Learned

Background: Latino caregivers caring for children under 5 years old who are under resourced, and underserved may be most vulnerable for experiencing mental health problems. Furthermore, Latino families with young children—during the COVID-19 pandemic—were at particular risk for multiple and concurrent stressors and acute adversities. Objectives: The Family Wellbeing Program (FWP) was designed to strengthen Latino caregivers’ mental health and mental well-being, and facilitate their access to mental health supports and service providers. Methods: Using the principles of community-based participatory research, a university research team and staff from a federally qualified health care center co-developed and implemented the FWP. Pre-and post-implementation focus groups with six staff were conducted and data analysis was guided by the RE-AIM framework. Results: Staff identified implementation challenges related to the pandemic and socioenvironmental factors affecting the reach and participation of Latino families. Staff perceived the program improved caregivers’ help-seeking behaviors, yet suggestions for improving the FWP for Latino caregivers were noted. Staff also discussed implementation strategies to sustain future programming. Conclusions: Implementation strategies along the RE-AIM dimensions were identified to improve the participation of Latino caregivers in future adaptations of the FWP. The implications of this work could show promise for sustaining programs designed to address disparities in mental health among Latino caregivers.