For over 40 years, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has been a beacon of hope for those affected by lupus, focusing on research, education, support, and advocacy.
Lupus is a complex, chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of the body. Anyone can develop lupus, but lupus disproportionately impacts women ages 15 to 44 and Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Latino, Native American/Indigenous, or Pacific Islander peoples. Learn more about lupus at lupus.org/resources/what-is-lupus.
Members of racial and ethnic minoritized populations and underserved communities generally experience poorer overall health outcomes, lower levels of access to quality healthcare, and lower life expectancy as compared to whites due to structural inequalities. These communities are also burdened disproportionately by autoimmune diseases like lupus, which result from a complex interaction between genetic, environmental, and social determinants of health. Additionally, the higher burden of disease and lack of preventive care and disease management support among racial and ethnic minoritized populations contribute to higher healthcare costs. For more information about lupus and health disparities visit www.lupus.org/health-disparities.
To address these challenges, the LFA’s Partners United for Sustainable Lupus Education (PULSE) program, supported by AstraZeneca and funded by a five-year cooperative grant with the CDC, launched a Community Health Worker (CHW) Resource Hub in 2024. This initiative aims to enhance lupus awareness, speed up diagnosis, and improve the quality of life for people with lupus (PWL).
The CHW Resource Hub offers five on-demand learning modules covering lupus symptoms, treatments, and resources. It also provides downloadable materials for community distribution and awards a certificate of completion with 0.5 professional development hours per module. Explore the CHW Resource Hub at lupus.org/CHW.
Using the CHW Resource Hub model, the LFA hopes to broaden outreach to non-clinical professionals like patient navigators and social workers.
Are you interested in contributing to this effort? Take a 5-minute survey to share your organization’s CHW needs and help us enhance lupus care and support.
Together, we can work towards reducing the time to diagnosis and improving the overall quality of life of those living with lupus.