Planned Parenthood South Texas with Promotoras in Cameron County

Abstract

My 2021 summer experiential project was with the South Texas Planned Parenthood partner program Habla Con Tu Hermana. I shadowed under Ms. Paula Saldaña, a community health worker and lead patient navigator at planned Parenthood. Ms. Paula Saldaña’s job is to train other health workers about sexual health education so they can go out to community events to educate and inform the community about what Planned Parenthood can offer. My time there was spent trying to close the gap, as much as possible, between Planned Parenthood health resources and the communities in South Texas. Not only that but, this is done in hopes to develop a positive community perspective on Planned Parenthood, to reach out to all socioeconomic groups and to decrease the high levels of sexual transmitted disease (STD) in South Texas. I shadowed Ms. Paula Saldaña because I am interested in the regional public health and sexual health education in Texas, the state I grew up in. As well as learning and teaching others about women’s health and sexual health education. By shadowing a community health worker and lead patient navigator, I gained a better appreciation for the work done to improve sexual health education and livelihood in my communities of South Texas.