SoLaHmo
Who we are
SoLaHmo Partnership for Health & Wellness (SoLaHmo) is a community-driven research program at Community University Health Care Center (CUHCC). We are made up of Somali, Latino/a/x, Hmong, Karen, Vietnamese, Native American, Black/African American and LGBTQ/Two Spirit community members and health care professionals in partnerships with academic researchers.
35
Active Members
100+
Community Members Trained
SoLaHmo Research Group Information
History
2008 – Held dialogues with Somali, Latino, and Hmong community. Supported by Blue Cross-Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota to create an asset framework for the Hmong, Latino, and Somali communities. Conducted 2-3 dialogues per community with a total of 72 participants in West Side’s patient area.
2009 – Conducted empowerment education with 10 community members to become Community Researchers in CBPAR.
2010 – Conducted a strategic planning process with Somali, Latino, and Hmong community members, which formed SoLaHmo.
Values
SoLaHmo recognizes that community-based research takes place within the context of historical and current social injustices and trauma that contribute to existing health disparities. Throughout history, research has been used to stigmatize, racialize and disempower communities of color and other marginalized groups.
- SoLaHmo addresses the social and structural determinants of health to achieve health equity and social justice.
- SoLaHmo practices an anti-racist research approach with shared leadership and decision-making.
- SoLaHmo takes a cultural strengths-based approach to doing research.
- SoLaHmo models the practice of cultural humility.
SoLaHmo seeks research partners committed to these values
Cultural Asset Framework
We believe that considerable community and cultural strengths exist that if recognized, built upon and perpetuated, may be protective for health. SoLaHmo conducts research and develops actions (i.e., programs/interventions/policy) through the lens of a community and cultural asset framework, in order to maximize health where it is strong, and address disparities where they exist.
Impact
- Improves Community Health / Clinical Care
- Increases Capacity of Community Members and Academic Partners
- Supports Community Members’ Careers (Pipeline to Academic Health Science Careers)
- Influences National Best Practices for CBPAR
CBPAR: Community-Based Participatory Action Research Projects
Current Projects
- QMEP: Quality Measures Enhancement
- Patient Engagement: Enhancing Culturally Appropriate Research
- Multi-Level Communication Strategies for HPV Vaccination in Hmong Adolescents
- Project TRUST – Training for Resiliency in Urban Students and Teachers
- Family Matters
- Very Important Pharmacogenes in the Hmong Community (VIP-Hmong)
- A Path to Identifying Effective Treatments for Hmong Adults Suffering from Gout and Gout Related Co-morbidities
- Immigrant Microbiome Project: Characterization of the Obesogenic Gut Microbiome Among Immigrants
- Minnesota Family Environmental Exposure Tracking (MN FEET)
- mHealth Feasibility for Chronic Disease
Past Projects
- Genetics Of Hyper-Uricemia Therapy in Hmong (GOUT-H)
- Somali, Latino and Hmong Hospice Stories
- Family Healthy Lifestyles
- Hmong Healthy Lifestyles
- Pharmacogenomic Testing in the Hmong Community: Phase 1
- Pharmacogenomic Testing in the Hmong Community: Phase 2
- Partnership for Rolling Hills Community Assets for Health
- Healthy St. Paul Families: Utilizing Latino, Hmong and Somali Cultural Strengths to Connect Communities and Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
- Effects of Media Exposure to Cancer Screening Controversy: A Mixed-Methods Study
- A Qualitative Study of Families of Children with Autism in the Somali Community
- Healthy Kids – Healthy Lives
- Multicultural School-Based Approach to Substance Use Prevention and Resiliency Promotion
- Cultural Asset Assessment of Somali, Latino and Hmong Communities in St. Paul MN
Publications
SoLaHmo Partnerships and Approaches- Publications
- Engaging with communities, engaging with patients: amendment to the NAPCRG 1998 Policy Statement on Responsible Research With Communities – Allen ML, Salsberg J,Knot M, LeMaster JW, Felzien M, Westfall JM, Herbert CP, Vickery K, Culhane-Pera KA, Ramsden VR, Zittleman L, Martin RE, Macaulay AC. Family Practice 2017;34(3):313-221. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmw074
- CBPAR Partnerships can address and redress health disparities: Voices from SoLaHmo – Culhane-Pera KA, Pergament SL, Ortega LE, Thao MS, Dhore N. MetroDoctors 2014; 16(5):23-26.
- A Capacity Building Program to Promote CBPR Partnerships Between Academic Researchers and Community Members. Clinical and Translational Science – Allen ML, Culhane-Pera KA, Pergament S, Call KT. 2011 Dec;4(6):428-33
- Facilitating Research Faculty Participation in CBPR: Development of a Model Based on Key Informant Interviews – Allen M, Call K, Pergament S, and Culhane-Pera KA. Clinical and Translational Science. 2010;3(5):233-237.
- Partners in Research: Curricula to Prepare Community and Faculty for CBPR Partnerships – Allen ML, Culhane-Pera KA, Call KT, Pergament S. (2010) CES4Health.info, 2011.
- Improving Immigrant and Refugee Health in Minnesota with Community-based Participatory Action Research – Culhane-Pera KA, Allen M, Pergament SL, Call K, Adawe A, dela Torre R, Hang M, Jama F, Navas M, Ortega L, Vue P, and Yang TT. Minnesota Medicine. April 2010: 54-57.
- Family Matters – Examining unanswered questions about the home environment and childhood obesity disparities using an incremental, mixed-methods, longitudinal study design: The Family Matters study – Berge J, Trofholz A, Tate A, Beebe M, Fertig A, Miner M, Crow S, Culhane-Pera K, Pergament S, Neuwmark-Sztainer.Contemporary Clinical Trials. August 2017:62.
- Somali, Latino and Hmong parents’ perceptions and approaches about raising healthy-weight children: A community-based participatory research study – Arcan C, Culhane-Pera K, Pergament S, Maira Rosas-Lee M, Xiong M. Public Health Nutrition 2017:1-15. doi:10.1017/S1368980017001719
SoLaHmo Partnerships and Approaches- Presentations
- Interdisciplinary and Multisectoral Action to Address the Social Determinants of Health – Culhane-Pera K, Hang M, Millien C, Ortega LE, Pergament S. Bridging Clinic and Community. Social Medicine Consortium 2016 Conference: Reimagining Social Medicine. April 30, 2016.
- Community Participatory Research by Somali, Latino, and Hmong Communities: SoLaHmo – Pergament S, Ortega L, Ahmed A, Hang M, Navas M. Teenwise Minnesota Annual Conference. Brooklyn Center, MN. May 6, 2011 (Workshop).
- SoLaHmo Partnership for Health and Wellness: CBPAR for Community Health Centers. Culhane-Pera KA, Ortega L, Ahmed A, Hang M, Navas M, Pergament S.Many Faces of Community Health Conference. St Louis Park, MN. October 29, 2010. (Workshop)
SoLaHmo Partnerships and Approaches- Posters
- HPV Vaccination in Hmong Adolescents: Multi-Level Communication Strategies for HPV Vaccination in Hmong Adolescents
- Very Important Pharmacogenes in the Hmong Community (VIP-Hmong)
- GOUT-H in the Hmong Community (Genetics Of Hyper-Uricemia Therapy in Hmong)
- Somali, Latino, and Hmong Parental Perceptions and Practices of Raising Healthy-Weight Children – Arcan C, Pergament S, Rosas-Lee M, Ortega LE, Thao MS, Xiong MB, Vang C, Culhane-Pera KA. 2012 Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities. National Harbor, MD. December 2012.
- Report from NIH Grant – Allen M and Culhane-Pera KA. Partners in Research. North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Meeting, Seattle Washington, November 15, 2010.
- Partners in Research: Maximizing Immigrant and Refugee Health through Community-based Participatory Action Research – Allen M and SoLaHmo members. Partners in Research Meeting – National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD. October 25, 2009.
- Healthy St. Paul Families: Utilizing Somali, Latino & Hmong Cultural Assets to Promote Healthy Diet & Physical Activity – Hang M, Omaar L, Ortega LE, and Pergament S. Many Faces of Community Health Conference. October 25, 2012.
- Somali, Latino, and Hmong Parental Perceptions and Practices of Raising Healthy-Weight Children – Rosas-Lee M, Arcan C, Pergament S, Culhane-Pera KA. University of Minnesota Community of Scholars Program. October 19, 2012.
SoLaHmo Partnerships and Approaches- Reports
- A Qualitative Study of Families of Children with Autism in the Somali Community: Comparing the Experiences of Immigrant Groups. McAlpine DD, Egal M, Pergament S, Novillo W, Yang MK. Barriers to early identification and access to services for children with autism: experiences of Somali, Hmong, and Latino families in Minnesota. LEND Brief: ASD and Culture. Spring 2015: 21-25.
- Clinician Perspectives’ of Quality Measures in Varied Health Care Systems. Quality Measurement Enhancement Project (QMEP), Minnesota Health Care Safety Net Coalition, and SoLaHmo Partnership for Health and Wellness, West Side Community Health Services, Inc. September 29, 2017
- Community Leaders’ Perspectives of Health, Quality Primary Health Care, and Payment Based on Quality Measures. Quality Measurement Enhancement Project (QMEP), Minnesota Health Care Safety Net Coalition, and SoLaHmo Partnership for Health and Wellness, West Side Community Health Services, Inc. February 9, 2018
- Cultural Strengths and Assets of Somali, Latino and Hmong Communities – Vang C, Hang M, Abdullahi S, Adawe A, Ahmed A, Anglin L, De la Torre R, Geele W, Lanata G, Lor S, Navas M, Ortega L, Robles C, Santos J, Thao MS, Vang P, Vue PC, Warsame K, Xiong MB, Culhane-Pera K, Pergament S. Essentials of Clinical Medicine. University of Minnesota. Poster Session. March 2012.
SoLaHmo Partnerships and Approaches- Newspaper Articles
- Immigrant Microbiome Project: Characterization of the Obesogenic Gut Microbiome Among Immigrant. Micro-Organisms / Macro Effects. Newspaper report by Stephanie Xenos. College of Biological Sciences. 2015. One page PDF Summary — Knights Lab Summary
- SoLaHmo: Building on Cultural Strengths for Safe, Healthy & Strong Families and Communities – Hang M, Thao MS, Xiong MB, Vang C. Hmong Times Online. April 8, 2012
SoLaHmo Partnerships and Approaches- Radio
- Somali, Latino and Hmong Radio Stories about Children’s Healthy Eating & Exercise: Findings from a SoLaHmo Pilot Study – Serrano L, Arcan C, Culhane-Pera KA, Pergament S, Adam K, Chang XGS, Dhore N, Dualeh H, Hang M, Ly N, Navarrete M, Omaar L, Ortega LO, Rosas-Lee M, Thao MS, Vang C. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) San Diego, May 21-24, 2013.
- Somali, Latino and Hmong Radio Stories about Children’s Healthy Eating & Exercise: A SoLaHmo Pilot Study (Findings) – Serrano L, Arcan C, Culhane-Pera KA, Pergament S, Adam K, Chang XGS, Dhore N, Dualeh H, Hang M, Ly N, Navarrete M, Omaar L, Ortega LO, Rosas-Lee M, Thao MS, Vang C. 2013 Poster Session and Awards Dinner “The Power of Partnerships.” St. Paul, MN. November 20, 2013.
- Somali, Latino and Hmong Radio Stories about Children’s Healthy Eating & Exercise: A SoLaHmo Pilot Study (Methods) – Serrano L, Arcan C, Culhane-Pera KA, Pergament S, Chang XGS, Dhore N, Dualeh H, Hang M, Ly N, Navarrete M, Omaar L, Ortega LO, Rosas-Lee M, Thao MS, Vang C. Discover through the lens of innovation: CTSI 213 research conference. Mpls, MN. October 1-2, 2013.
- Frogtown Community Radio (WFNU): “SoLaHmo Voices” (weekly, 2016)
- SoLaHmo Healthy Lifestyle Stories: 9 radio stories about the prevention of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity (3 stories in Somali, 3 in Spanish and 3 in Hmong). The stories are based on true success stories from interviews with local families in each of the three communities. (Audio in Somali, Spanish and Hmong; written scripts also available in English)
- Somali Stories (Mondays, 6-7pm)
- Hmong Stories (Wednesdays, 6-7pm)
- Latino Stories (Fridays, 6-7pm)
Partnership Building Tools
- University of Minnesota Program in Health Disparities Research, PHDR Resources for Community-based Research, PHDR Resources Co-developed with SoLaHmo Partnership for Health & Wellness.
- University of Minnesota CTSI Resources for Community-Engaged Research.
Other Publications
- What Drives an Intervention’s Success? Contextual Barriers and Facilitators to Youth and Parent Participatory Action Research Projects in Schools – Wilhelm A, Bigelow M, Ortega L, Pergament S, Hang M, Allen M. Journal of Adolescent Health February 2018;62(2):S113-S114.
- Engaging Hmong adults in genomic and pharmacogenomic research: Toward reducing health disparities in genomics knowledge using community-based participatory research – Culhane-Pera KA, Straka RJ, Moua MK, Roman Y, Vue P, Xiaaj K, Lo MX, Lor M. Journal of Community Genomics. Epub ahead of print 10 Jan 2017. doi:10.1007/s12687-017-0292-x
- Leaves Imitate Trees: Minnesota Hmong concepts of heredity and applications to genomics research. Journal of Community Genomics – Culhane-Pera KA, Moua MK, Vue P, Xiaaj K, Lo MX, Straka RJ. (Epub ahead of print 07 November 2016) DOI 10.1007/s12687-016-0284-2
- Assessment of genetic polymorphisms associated with hyperuricemia and gout in the Hmong. Personalized Medicine – Roman Y, Culhane-Pera KA, Menke J, Straka RJ. 2016;13(5):429-440. (Epub ahead of print) DOI 10.2217/pme-2016-0021
- Feasibility Results of a Participatory Teacher Professional Development Intervention to Promote Positive Youth Development for Somali, Latino, and Hmong Youth – Allen ML, Ortega LE, Cushing-Leubner J, Bigelow M, Pergament S, Hang M, Okuyemi K. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2016:58(2):S45.
- They just respect you for who you are: contributors to educator positive youth development promotion for Somali, Latino, and Hmong students – Allen ML, Rosas-Lee M, Ortega L, Hang M, Pergament S, Pratt R. J Prim Prev. 2016;37(1):71-86.
- Promoting resilience in diverse classrooms: The answers are not in the back of the book – Cushing-Leubner, J., Adam, K., Bigelow, M., Hang, M., Ortega, L., Pergament, S., Prifrel, R., Susens, S., & Allen, M. MinneTESOL Journal, spring issue.
- Barriers to early identification and access to services for children with autism: experiences of Somali, Hmong, and Latino families in Minnesota. LEND Brief: ASD and Culture – McAlpine DD, Egal M, Pergament S, Novillo W, Yang MK. Spring 2015: 21-25.
- Concept mapping as an approach to facilitate participatory intervention building. Progress in Community Health Partnerships – Allen, M. L., Shaleben-Boateng, D., Davey, C., Hang, M., & Pergament, S. (forthcoming). Winter 2015; 9 (4): 599-608. 2016 Feb; 37 (1): 71-86.
- Promoting Positive Youth Development in High School for Somali, Latino, and Hmong Youth: Perspectives of Teachers, Youth-workers, and Students – Allen ML, Ortega LE, Rosas-Lee M, Pergament S, Hang M, Omar L. Journal of School Health. January 2014
Radio Stories
Hospice Radio Stories
The Hospice Stories Project, a collaboration between Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care (MNHPC), SoLaHmo Partnership for Health and Wellness (SoLaHmo) and ECHO, is building culturally relevant awareness around hospice care in Latino, Somali and Hmong communities in the Twin Cities.
These radio stories are based on true stories from interviews with local families in Hmong, Somali, and Latino
Video: Spanish – Hmong – Somali – English
Audio
Hmong Radio Story: Hmong – English.
Somali Radio Story Somali – English
Latino Radio Story Spanish – English
Healthy Lifestyle Radio Stories
Video: YouTube Audio Links
Scripts
Hmong/English: Obesity – Hypertension – Diabetes
Somali/English: BMI – Hypertension – Diabetes
Latino/English: Childhood Obesity – Hypertension – Diabetes
Partnerships
SoLaHmo’s Core Partnership Expectations
SoLaHmo’s Core Partnership Expectations
- Our projects and partners adhere to CBPAR principles.
- SoLaHmo community researchers are Co-Investigators and may be Co-Principal Investigators where appropriate.
- SoLaHmo community researchers are represented at all levels of our research partnerships and at decision-making tables about SoLaHmo.
- The SoLaHmo Asset Framework will be applied to the development of research tools, data analysis and programs/interventions.
- SoLaHmo researcher’s cultural perspectives will be applied in the development of all research processes, documents and tools.
- Time for partnership development will be built into our research timelines.
- SoLaHmo encourages our partners to engage in discussions about the role of racism and how to redress it, related to the research topic at hand.
Solahmo-University of MN Partnership Building Tools
- The University of Minnesota Program in Health Disparities Research, PHDR Resources for Community-based Research, PHDR Resources Co-developed with SoLaHmo Partnership for Health & Wellness. Accessible here.
- University of Minnesota CTSI Resources for Community-Engaged Research. Accessible here.
Trainings For Community Research and Research Partnership
- Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR)
- Focus Groups
- Key Informant Interviews
- Participatory Data Analysis
- Ethical Human Subjects Research Workshop – from a Community Perspective
- Collaborative Agreements for Community-Academic Research Partnerships (MOUs)
- Research Partnership Protocol: A Gold Standard
Funders
Federal
- Centers for Disease Control/National Cancer Institute (CDC/NCI)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Pipeline2Proposal Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III
Local
- The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
- FR Bigelow Foundation
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
- University of Minnesota, Program in Health Disparities Research
- University of Minnesota, Clinical and Translational Science Institute
- St. Paul Foundation
- UCare Fund
Our Community Partners
- CAB member affiliations (multiple)
- Community Campus Partnerships for Health
- Dial Group
- ECHO-MN/ TPT
- Frogtown Radio
- Hmong American Partnership
- Kajoog
- Minnesota Safety Net Coalition
- MN Association of Community Health Centers
- MN Department of Health
- MN Network of Hospice and Palliative Care
- MN East Side YMCANeighborhood House
- Quality Measurement Enhancement Project (QMEP)
- Social Medicine Consortium
- St Paul-Ramsey County Public Health
- St. Paul Public Schools
- Urban Roots
Our Academic Partners
- University of Minnesota – Center for Bioethics
- University of Minnesota – Clinical & Translational Science Institute
- University of Minnesota – Department of Education and Curriculum Development Gustavus Adolphus College
- University of Minnesota – Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology
- University of Minnesota – Medical School, Program in Health Disparities Research
- University of Minnesota – School of Public Health
- University of Minnesota – School of Social Work