Funded Projects

Beyond the Clinic: Strengthening Community Trust

Project Year

2026

City & State

San Francisco, California

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Immigrant/Migrant/Refugee/Undocumented Health

Program Description

Problem: In San Francisco’s Mission District, Latinx and immigrant families disproportionately face barriers to accessing routine pediatric care due to language gaps, health misinformation, and fears surrounding immigration policies. Research links increased immigration enforcement practices to poorer mental and physical health. Data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System showed increased mental health concerns in states with exclusionary immigration practices (1); additional studies demonstrated higher rates of low birth weight among infants born to Latina mothers during intensified enforcement (2, 3). Nationally, nearly one in four low-income Latinx children has not seen a physician in the past year (4). We observe similar trends within our San Francisco General Hospital Children’s Health Clinic (SFGH CHC), including declining preventive care attendance and fewer newly-arrived immigrant families establishing care. Economic barriers exacerbate these issues: in San Francisco, the median household income for Latinx families is approximately $40,000, which is well-below self-sufficiency estimates for a family of four (5, 6). These disparities highlight the urgent need for pediatric partnerships with trusted community organizations to improve health literacy and engagement.  

Primary Setting: Our project partners with Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, a trusted community organization located in the heart of the Mission District of San Francisco, 2 blocks away from the SFGH CHC. For over 30 years, Good Samaritan has served the community and provides a safe, familiar environment where families can engage with clinicians without time constraints or fear related to language, immigration status, or personal safety.  

Number of Children Affected: The project serves Latinx and undocumented families, including expectant mothers. We anticipate engaging at least 60 families, impacting over 100 children annually.  Project Goal:  The goal of this project is to improve pediatric health outcomes and health literacy for primarily Spanish-speaking families in San Francisco through culturally responsive, community-centered education. We aim to meet families where they feel safe and supported, regardless of language, educational background, or legal status.  

Proposed Intervention:  Following our ongoing pilot (January–June 2026), we will implement a series of 12+ bilingual pediatric health workshops. Topics include vaccines, oral health, nutrition, and other preventive care priorities identified by the community. Sessions will allow dedicated time for questions and discussion that may not be feasible during standard clinic visits and will include assistance on navigating public health resources and establishing a medical home.  

Anticipated Outcomes:  Beginning January 2026, we will conduct at least 18 bilingual community sessions reaching a minimum of 60 families. We will assess program impact using pre- and post-session surveys to measure changes in caregiver knowledge, understanding pediatric health concerns, and familiarity with preventive services and public benefits. Attendance tracking and referral follow-up will assess engagement and connection to care, including establishment of a medical home when applicable. Qualitative feedback gathered during facilitated discussions will inform iterative improvement of sessions. We will develop a standardized community education template to support sustainability and expansion. We will recruit and train junior pediatric residents and collaborate with residency leadership to integrate this into ongoing community engagement efforts. 

Project Goal

This project will seek to improve pediatric health outcomes and health literacy for primarily Spanish-speaking families in San Francisco through collaborative efforts for culturally sensitive education. We will meet and support families where they feel safe, regardless of language, education, or legal status. 

Project Objective 1

By the end of May 2027, we will conduct at least 12 bilingual (Spanish/English) health workshops at Good Samaritan Family Resource Center.

Project Objective 2

By the end of May 2027, we will reach at least 60 families with children ages 0-10 via bilingual sessions that address common pediatric concerns (e.g., vaccines, oral health) and education of public benefits (e.g., WIC enrollment, medical home establishment).

Project Objective 3

By the end of May 2027, we will produce a replicable, community-based education toolkit (agenda templates, materials, evaluation tools) to present at the SFGH Grand Rounds and to obtain buy-in from program leadership to integrate into the residency's community partnership and advocacy curriculum. 

AAP District

District IX

Institutional Name

Good Samaritan Family Resource Center

Contact 1

Zachary Emmanuel Sandoval, MD, MPH

Contact 2

Marissa Reyes, MD