"Nobody is born with knowledge": A Qualitative Analysis of Latinx Families' Experiences in a Traditional vs Family Centered Pediatric Health Care Model

As the Latinx population in the U.S. continues to grow, public health interventions aimed at improving health care access for Latinx individuals are increasingly vital. DULCE (Developmental Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone), a pediatric health intervention built around the Family Centered Care (FCC) model, is one promising intervention for tackling Latinx health disparities beginning at infancy. Drawing on qualitative interviews from Latinx DULCE participants, the current study explored how FCC transformed Latinx families' pediatric health care experiences and how cultural barriers, such as immigration status, impacted engagement in overall services. The FCC model utilized in DULCE was able to bridge barriers to care and increase parental knowledge through the assignment of Family Specialists, who worked to assist parents in finding and enrolling in additional services outside and within the clinic. These one-on-one relationships resulted in more open and honest discussion of needs by Latinx parents and bolstered family's engagement in services, improving overall family health outcomes. Family Centered Care interventions may be a promising strategy for better assisting Latinx families and improving infant health outcomes, further mitigating Latinx health disparities across the lifespan.