Research
Camino Research Institute (CRI) is a bilingual hub for community-driven research that informs the development and implementation of services and policies that meet the needs of Latinos. Research conducted at CRI focuses on the social determinants of health through community based participatory research (CBPR), informing programs and services across Camino.
Our research strategy
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a highly effective means of conducting research within minority communities, including Latinos. CBPR involves community members as equal partners, ensuring that the research is grounded in the community and appropriately reflects their needs and perspectives. Throughout the CBPR process, community members and researchers work together to leverage the strengths and resources of the community, creating community empowerment to solve problems. CBPR puts research findings into practice, using the data to create sustainable, culturally appropriate interventions that improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities in Latino communities.Conducting research with communities – Leveraging asset based approaches – Dedication to community improvement – Shared power and decision making
Help Us With Our Research
Participate in one of our projects! Your voice, experiences, and ideas are important and deserve to be heard! These surveys are anonymous and your responses will not be shared with anyone.
LCSNA
A statewide study that uses mixed methods and Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches to better understand the strengths, needs, and experiences of Latinos across North Carolina. This survey targets Latinos who are 18 years old or older and live in Charlotte NC.
Take SurveyValores y aspiraciones de los Latinos empleados (VALE)
A mixed methods study that includes 1) a survey to learn more about what Latino immigrants value in the workplace and how work impacts health 2) interviews with employers about the benefits and challenges to hiring/ managing Latino immigrant employees. Data will be use to match Latino immigrants to jobs that align with their values and skills.
Take SurveyCommunity Voting Survey
A study to understand voting behaviors and the motivators and barriers to voting. This survey targets anyone who is a US Citizen and 18 years old or older.
Take Survey
Latest Research
2024 Western North Carolina Latino Community Strengths and Needs Assessment Report
Over the past 20 years, the Latino population in Western North Carolina (WNC) hasgrown rapidly. Today, nearly 50,000 Latinos live in the WNC region. However,research on this population segment is lacking, which makes it difficult to plan andadvocate for the development of programs and services that meet the needs of WNCLatinos
Mecklenburg County Latino Community Strengths & Needs Assessment (LCSNA)
A statewide study that uses mixed methods and Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches to better understand the strengths, needs, and experiences of Latinos across North Carolina. Data can be used to inform programs and policies that impact Latino families. This project targets Latinos who are 18 years old or older and live in North Carolina.
COVID-19 Study
A mixed-methods study conducted in 2021 to better understand the physical, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinos in the Charlotte Region.
The Migrant Experience: A Journey of Hope
The Camino team interviewed migrants and members of migrant centers and churches in El Paso, Texas (TX); Las Cruces, New Mexico (NM); and Juarez, Mexico, using questions developed by Camino Research Institute (CRI).
“Así es la vida”
Stress, control, and coping among Latino/a immigrants.
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Social Support and Religiosity as Contributing Factors to Resilience and Mental Wellbeing in Latino Immigrants: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study.
Media and Discussions
WFAE (2022). The Growing Impact and Influence of Latinos in the Charlotte Area.
Our Services & Sectors
Camino Research Institute offers consultation services for a variety of research topics in various sectors. Our interdisciplinary team can help you wherever you are in the research process. We also assist in developing, conducting, and completing research studies and data collection projects. If you would like more information about our work, consultation services, or collaboration, please email us. If you would like to apply for a consultation, please complete the form.
Services:
- Speaking Engagements
- Dissemination Strategies
- Written Reports/White Papers
- Application of Findings
- Community-driven research design
- Focus group/Interview Guide Development
- Qualitative Research
- Quantitative Research
- Survey Development
Sectors
- Non-Profit Organization
- Real Estate and Construction
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Retail/Consumer Products
Connect with our team
Contact Us
The Team
Sarai Ordonez, CHES
Manager
Is the Manager of Camino Research Institute. She has a Bachelors of Science in Public Health and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Sarai has 3 years of research experience and is passionate about reducing health disparities affecting the Latino community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family. Sarai is a Charlotte native and the daughter of Honduran immigrants.
Lennin Caro, MA
Lead Community Researcher
Is the lead community researcher at Camino Research Institute. In 2017, he received his master’s in cultural anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he currently teaches undergraduate anthropology courses. Lennin has 8 years of experience in conducting, publishing, and presenting qualitative research on diverse topics: volunteer tourism, Christian subjectivity, neoliberalism, nurse burnout, and the stress-coping process among Latino immigrants. When not working on research, Lennin is usually found playing the piano, guitar, or violin with his toddler, Aaron Caro.
Daniel Alvarez, MHA
Data Scientist
Is an aspiring healthcare executive leader dedicated to addressing disparities in healthcare, eliminating stigmas around mental health, and increasing accessibility to resources for the underrepresented. He is currently a Data Scientist at Camino and co-authored the 2022 Mecklenburg County Latino Community Strengths and Needs report.
Bibliography
To view our full bibliography, click the download button below. Are you interested in reading an article mentioned here? Send us an email and we’ll provide access to the full article
- Así es la Vida”: Stress and Coping among Latino/a Immigrants. Journal of Latinx Psychology. Caro, L., Ordonez, S., Revens, K.E (2022).
- Understanding the Factors Associated with Resilience in Latino Immigrants (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Revens, K.E. (2019).
- Social support and religiosity: Contributing factors to resilience in Latino immigrants, a community-based participatory research study. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. Revens, KE., Gutierrez, D., Paul, R., Reynolds, A., DeHaven, M.J. (2021).
- Designing Health Care: A community health science solution for reducing health disparities by integrating social determinants and the effects of place. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2020, 1-9. DeHaven, M.J. Gimpel, N., Kitzman, H., Gutierrez, D., Revens, K.E. (2019).
- Improving self-care management in low-income Latinos with Type II Diabetes using Peer-led US Conversation Maps: A Quality Improvement Project in a free clinic. Fallas, C., R., Pereira, K., Padilla, B.I., Felsman, I., Allen, S., Priek, C. (2020).
- Text Message Intervention for Latino Adults to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in an Urban Free Clinic Setting (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databases. (Gardner-Webb University 10769). Allen, S.R. (2018).
- The Development of a Community Counseling Training Clinic for Latino Immigrants. Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice, 2(20):20, 1-15. Gutierrez, D., Revens, K.E., DeHaven, M.J. (2019).
- Contributions of Documentation Status, Spiritual Coping, and Acculturation on the Stress Level of Adult Hispanic Immigrants. UNC Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations. Benitez, E. (2018).
