"Brave Hearts" is a community-centered initiative focused on increasing awareness, education, and emotional support for Hispanic families impacted by congenital heart disease (CHD). The project combines culturally relevant CHD education with mental health resources, empowering families with knowledge, resilience, and tools to navigate the lifelong journey of CHDs.
In the United States and across Latin America, thousands of Hispanic families face a critical barrier to accessing quality care for congenital heart disease (CHD): language. For parents of children with CHD - and for adult patients themselves - navigating a complex medical system becomes overwhelming when educational materials, diagnoses, and treatment plans are only provided in English or medical jargon that is difficult to understand. This gap in language accessibility leads to:
This project will eliminate language barriers by providing CHD education and mental health support in Spanish through bilingual workshops, culturally tailored materials, and community-led outreach. Families will gain clear, accessible information about diagnosis, treatment, and emotional care. By training Hispanic CHD ambassadors and offering support groups, we ensure families feel informed, empowered, and connected-improving outcomes and emotional resilience in underserved communities.
This project will build a lasting foundation of knowledge, advocacy, and support within Hispanic communities. Families will be better equipped to manage CHD across the patient's lifespan, leading to earlier diagnoses, improved treatment adherence, and stronger mental health. By empowering local leaders and CHD survivors, we foster a self-sustaining network of informed advocates who continue raising awareness, breaking stigma, and pushing for systemic change in healthcare access and equity.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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