Innovative Approaches to Health
Promotion Outreach and Community
Development Among Immigrant and
Refugee Populations.
Sara Torres, PhD; Denise L. Spitzer, PhD;
Ronald Labont´e, PhD; Carol Amaratunga, PhD;
Caroline Andrew, PhD
Abstract: This article provides results from an empirical case study that showcases a community health worker practice targeting immigrants and refugees in Canada. The study focuses on the Multicultural Health Brokers practice, which offers an innovative approach to health promotion
outreach and community development addressing broad social determinants of health. This article offers new evidence of both the role of community health worker interventions in Canada and community health workers as an invisible health and human services workforce. It also discusses the Multicultural Health Brokers contribution both to the “new public health” vision in Canada and to a practice that fosters feminist urban citizenship.
Key words: Canada, community development, community health workers, health human services workforce, health promotion, health care system, immigrants, Multicultural Health Brokers, public health, refugees
