Savoring the service: A qualitative study of Latine community health workers’ health promotion efforts

Latine communities have long faced stark health inequities and systemic barriers to accessing healthcare services. Community health workers (CHWs) serve as a key link between patients and the often-daunting healthcare system, providing crucial health education and support. Despite this important yet demanding role, little is known about CHWs’ personal experiences of community health promotion and how they might draw upon their work for strength and endurance. The present study explored the potential for relational savoring, a procedure that elicits feelings of closeness and connection, to capture CHWs’ experiences of community health promotion. CHWs ( n = 30) from California community health agencies completed audio-recorded tasks in which they recalled and mindfully savored service provision memories. Transcripts were examined via inductive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: Fulfilling Experiences, Sources of Resilience, Challenges of Community Health Work, and Support Net. The present study expands our understanding of important caregiving processes in community health workers. Findings may inform future efforts to improve individual and group-level mental health outcomes in Latine communities.