Círculos de Bailoterápia

Social support networks

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Residents in low-income communities are experiencing high rates of depression and loneliness post-pandemic. Social support networks are key to recovery. VyC’s Boyle Heights Community Public Health Team (CPHT), Su salud esta en sus manos, conducted 109 household assessments through door-to-door visits and community workshops. Results indicate that 70% of residents feel depressed and lonely; 30% of parents report their children are experiencing some form of depression (lack of motivation, loss of interest in activities, and increased recreational drug use). According to the World Health Organization, depression and loneliness seriously impact “people’s ability to work, seek support from loved ones and engage in their communities.” Círculos de Bailoterápia will meet this need by building networks of peer support where children and families are supported to be happy and healthy, and can access resources that foster unity and resilience in the face of political and societal upheaval.

VyC will provide 3-4 Círculos de Bailoterápia to engage a minimum of 20 community residents (parents, older adults, caregivers, individuals with chronic health concerns) per group (60-80) to promote health and wellness and build connected communities. Bailoterápia is an evidence-based practice that increases physical activity while strengthening social support networks, providing participants with information related to a range of physical and behavioral health issues and building local capacity to deliver culturally and linguistically specific programs “that work.” This grant would offer Bailoterápia workshops as part of our Su Salud Está en Sus Manos (Your Health Is in Your Hands) program which supports 8 community-based promotoras who promote healthy living for East Los Angeles residents (Boyle Heights/Lincoln Heights). Promotoras will invite community members who experience increased risk for social determinants of health (e.g., unequal access to healthcare, higher rates of preventable disease, adverse outcomes due to COVID-19) as identified by the household assessments. Círculos de Bailoterápia will: 1) Help community members incorporate moderate movement into their everyday lives, 2) Share information about healthy eating, and 3) Develop social networks that offer critical peer support to sustain physical activity levels and lifestyle changes into the future and create community connections proven to reduce depression and social isolation among participants.

By October 2025, VyC will connect 60-80 East LA residents to Círculos de Bailoterápia who will report: 1) feeling more empowered to manage their personal health, 2) more knowledgeable about how to locate additional resources to support their family, and 3) increased connection to other residents in their community. Promotoras and other community leaders play an essential role in community transformation and, as residents regain a sense of community, they will also move toward participating in civic engagement such as voting and information sharing. VyC’s long-term goal is to provide training and capacity-building opportunities through our train-the-trainer program to encourage more promotoras to offer Bailoterápia in their communities. Our Training Department supports trained Bailoterápia instructors with ongoing training to ensure the essence of the Circles are grounded in community building and community wellness.

VyC will use a pre- and post-evaluation tool and participant self-reported data to measure the success of the Círculos de Bailoterápia to: 1) improve health behaviors (increased physical activity minutes, reduced sodium, sugar intake), 2) increase linkages to resources and services that address SDOH as identified by household assessments (referrals, program enrollments), and 3) monitor change in participants’ physical and emotional wellness (increased strength and flexibility, physical activity social support, access to emotional and practical support, self-reported reductions in depression and loneliness). Personal testimonies will also highlight challenges and successes experienced by participants and increased access to cultural and linguistic resources and information to improve their families’ well-being and connection to their community.