Implementing a Targeted and Culturally Tailored Policy, Systems, and Environmental Nutrition Strategy to Reach Korean Americans

Abstract

The problem: Policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) approaches have been shown to be effective in increasing rates of healthy behaviors in the overall population, but are not always effective in reaching racial and ethnic minority groups, including Korean Americans (KAs), who may be socially and linguistically isolated from mainstream campaigns and programs. Targeted and tailored PSE strategies are needed to reach these groups.

Purpose: To describe the process and lessons learned in implementing a targeted and culturally tailored PSE strategy to increase access to healthy foods for KAs.

Key points: A Korean community-based organization (CBO) used its inherent understanding of cultural context, and social and historical viewpoints of KAs to develop PSE strategies to reach more than 13,000 KAs.

Conclusions: Local CBOs can play a significant role in complementing population-level strategies with more tailored and targeted approaches to reach racial and ethnic minority groups.

Figure 1.

Model for developing and implementing targeted and culturally tailored PSE strategy.

Figure 2.

Partnership structure of the Strategies to Reach and Implement the Vision of Health Equity (STRIVE) project.

Figure 3.

Community-based organizational and other stakeholder partners representing the Korean American Community Health Initiative (KACHI).

Figure 4.

Newly created brown rice product (“Golden Ratio Brown Rice with Multigrains”) developed through KCS’s successful community-business partnership.