Alegría is a dance-based health education program for Spanish-speaking families in South Carolina. It provides light refreshments, health resources, dance performances, and activities in a supportive community environment. A survey of participants found that the most beneficial aspect was increased knowledge of strategies to help children with special needs. Participants highly rated all aspects of the program. Organizers are considering expanding Alegría into a nonprofit to continue providing community events, respite opportunities, and student fieldwork experiences to promote health and wellness.

1. Alegría: A Dance-Based
Health Education Program
Summer 2013

2. “…it is a time for laughing and
smiling...”
--Alegria Parent Participant

3. Presentation Outline
 Background & History
 Methods
 Outcomes & Lessons
Learned
 Next Steps

4. Background & History

5. Background and History

6. Language
barriers
Social barriers
Economic
barriers
Transportation
difficulties
Knowledge of
healthcare
system
Foreign-Born in SC--44% (Pew, 2011)

7. Coordinators
 English as a Second Language (ESL)
Teacher
 Community Health Worker
(CHW)/Bilingual Patient Services
Representative
 MUSC Alliance for Hispanic Health Advisor
 Occupational Therapist
 Speech Therapist

8. Methods

12. Budget ($1,000)
 Staff
 Facility
 Food/Drink (Light refreshments)
 Marketing and Publications
 Miscellaneous Supplies (Brochures, Surveys)

13. In-Kind Donations (over $1500)
 Meals (pizza, appetizers, etc.)
 Advertisement
 Dance and Gymnastics Demonstrations
 Piñatas
 Balloon Portrait Display
 Painting supplies
 Face painting and animal balloons

15. Adopt-A-Piñata Sponsors
 MUSC Alliance for
Hispanic Health
 Floyd Brace Company
 MUSC Children's Care,
North Charleston &
Moncks Corner
 Monica Mason
 Fred Reyes

17. Food Sponsors
 El Sabor Latino
 La Hacienda Restaurant
 La Nortena Taqueria
 Little Star of the Caribbean Food Truck
 Tropical Kitchen Express

18. Special Event Sponsors
 Arena Balloons Portrait Background Display
 Charleston Latin Groove
 Chirie Dautel Dance
 Oui Dance 2 Dance Company
 Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club
 K 9 Care Unit Pet Therapy group
 Zumba by Christian Yonce

20. Featured Non-Profits
 ABRAZOS program
 Family Connections
Spanish Outreach
program
 PASOS program
 Seacoast Church
Dream Center

21. Health Education Resources
 American Heart Association Brochures:
 ¿Cómo puede la actividad física convertirse
en un estilo de vida?
 How can physical activity become a lifestyle?
 ¿Cómo puedo cocinar comida saludable?
 How can I cook healthy food?
 Colegio de Profesionales de Terapia
Ocupacional de Puerto Rico
 Videojuegos y la televisión
 Video games and television

22. Participant Feedback

23. Alegría is a great opportunity to get involved
with the community and has taught me how
little it can take to bring a smile to someone’s
face. Everyone deserves the opportunity to
celebrate the joys of life, and Alegría makes
that happen!"
--Alegría Volunteer Pamela Vesely

24. Outcomes & Lessons
Learned

25. Survey Outcomes
Ages (14 respondents):
 0 to 3 years old (3)
 3 to 5 years old (4)
 5 to 10 years old (3)
 10 to 15 years old (3)
 15 to 20 years old (1)
 20+ year old (0)

26. Child Impairments:
 Blindness or visual difficulties (1)
 Deaf or hearing difficulties (2)
 Intellectual/cognitive
difficulties (3)
 Medical difficulties (4)
 Physical difficulties (5)
 Psychiatric difficulties (0)
 Speech and language
difficulties (6)
 Other: Autism/PDD (2), Down
Syndrome (1)
Survey Outcomes

27. General Ratings
Program Item Ratings
Location Excellent or Good (100%)
Times Excellent or Good (100%)
Food Excellent or Good (100%)
Staff/volunteers Excellent or Good (100%)
Special Events Excellent or Good (100%)

28. Survey Outcomes
Most beneficial aspect:
 Increased knowledge
of strategies to
interact with and
help my child with
special needs (78.5%)

29. Program Benefits to Family
Knowledge of ways
to promote health
and wellness for my
family (42.9%)
Knowledge of
strategies to interact
with and help my
child with special
needs (78.6%)
Knowledge of
resources in the
area to promote
health and wellness
for my family (42.9%)
Social support
and/or knowledge
of strategies for
coping (42.9%)

30. Next Steps

31. The opportunity to work with these children
and these families during the past four weeks
has filled my heart with joy and hope for them
and their siblings. It is an honor to be part of
this experience.
--Alegría Volunteer Martha Gomez

32. Alegria
Non-Profit
Org.?
Dances?
Community
Events?
Respite
Night?
Student
Fieldwork?
Community
Grants?

35. Thank You to Our Sponsors
 MUSC Alliance for
Hispanic Health
 Arena Balloons
 El Sabor Latino
 Floyd Brace Company
 La Hacienda
Restaurant
 La Isla Magazine
 La Nortena Taqueria
 Latin Groove
 Little Star of the
Caribbean Food Truck
 MUSC Children's Care,
North Charleston &
Moncks Corner
 Oui Dance 2 Dance
Company
 Roaring Twenties Hot
Jazz Dance Club
 Seacoast Church
Dream Center
 Tropical Kitchen
Express
 Vida Bella Services, LLC
 “Un Café con Fe”