My research goal is to contribute to improved access to quality health care for underserved and minority populations through (1) the development of appropriate methodologies that increase the sustainability of community health care programs by improving their in-house capacity in monitoring and evaluation, (2) the development of standard yet flexible methodologies for translating knowledge into practice at the community level in a culturally appropriate manner and (3) identifying the predictors of health competence with the aim of increasing access to care for the growing US Latino population. Other areas of research interest include: (4) refining methodologies to evaluate community mobilization programs that aim to change health behaviors at both national and international levels, and (5) studying the role that social networks play in the health seeking behavior of the US Latino population, and specifically, regarding chronic disease preventive behaviors.

In the summer of 2007, I taught a new class: "Latino Health: Measures and Predictors", and will teach it again during the first two weeks of June 2008. Course # 410.660.11.

As Director of the JH/J&J Scholars Program , I have trained and supervised over 50 doctoral students, and developed methodologies specific for building community health care organizations' in-house capacity in evaluation. In April 2008, a book I wrote on this subject was published by Springer. Information on this book can be found at http://www.springer.com/public+health/book/978-0-387-77376-6. More information on the J&J Scholars Program can be found at http:/www.jjjhscholar.org

Capacity building in evaluation, US Latino Health, sustainability of community health care programs, community mobilization, community health care programs, cultural competence, evaluation research, evaluation methods, social networks, maternal health, child health, acess to health care for underserved populations, minority health, chronic disease prevention, diabetes prevention, HIV/AIDS.

National Hispanic Health Professsional Leadership Award (2008), National Hispanic Medical Association

Chair, Latino Caucus of the American Public Health Association, 2007-2009

National Institutes of Health Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, 1997-1999. American Dietetic Association Public Health Scholarship, 1987 1988.

American Dietetic Association Board Certified RD, 1987.

Elected to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1987.

Fonseca-Becker, F., & Boore, A.L., (2008) "Community Health Care's O-Process for Evaluation: A Participatory Approach for Increasing Sustainability". Springer Publishers.

Munoz, B., O’Leary, M., Fonseca-Becker, F., et. al. (2008) “Knowledge of Diabetic Eye Disease and Vision Care Guidelines Among Hispanic Individuals in Baltimore With and Without Diabetes”. Archives of Ophthalmology. 126(7):968-974.

Fonseca-Becker, F., Perez-Patron, M.J., Munoz, B., O’Leary, M,, Rosario, E., West, S.K. (2007) “Health Competence as Predictor of Access to Care Among Latinos in Baltimore” Journal Immigrant Minority Health. 1557-1912 (Print), 1557-1920 (Online first),December 3, 2007.

Fonseca-Becker, F., Valente, T.W., (2006) “Promoting breastfeeding in Bolivia: do social networks add to the predictive value of traditional socioeconomic characteristics?” Journal of Population, Health and Nutrition. 24(1):71-80.

Becker, S., Fonseca-Becker, F. Schenck-Yglesias, C. (2006) "Husband’s and Wives Reports of Women’s Decision Making Power in Western Guatemala and their Effect on Preventive Behaviors.” Social Science & Medicine 62: 2313-2326.

Fonseca-Becker, F. (2006) – “Monitoring and evaluation methodologies for Community Health Care Organizations providing HIV/AIDS services” Chapter in Tabush, V. et. al. editors “Management development handbook for HIV/AIDS care providers in East Africa”. Anderson School of Management. UCLA.

JHPIEGO (2004) co-author JHU/CCP team – Bertrand, J., Fonseca-Becker, F., Sood, S., Thadeus, S. “Monitoring birth preparedness and complication readiness: tools and indicators for maternal and newborn health”

Fonseca-Becker, F., and Bakadi, G. (2004) Chapter: Interventions to strengthen community response. Case study: mobilizing traditional networks in Guinea in McKee, N., Bertrand, J., Becker-Benton, A., “Strategic Communication in the HIV/AIDS Epidemic”. Sage Publications.

Technical Reports (selected)

Fonseca-Becker, F., Bakadi, G., Sow, A. (2005) “Mobilizing Communities for behavior change: HIV/AIDS and pregnancy prevention among youth in Upper-Guinea”. The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD. Can be downloaded from:http://www.jhuccp.org/pubs/cp/GuineaHIV/engGuineaReport.pdf

Fonseca-Becker, F., Schenck-Yglesias, C. (2004) “Measuring the Effects of Behavior Change and Service Delivery Interventions in Guatemala with Population-based Survey Results. JHPIEGO, Baltimore, MD. Can be downloaded from: http://pdf.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNADA611.pdf

Fonseca-Becker, F., et al. (2004) “Mobilizing for Impact: Engaging Guatemalan Communities to Save Mothers.” The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Communication Programs. Baltimore, MD. Can be downloaded from: http://www.jhuccp.org/pubs/cp/mobilizing/Mobilizing_eng.pdf

Fonseca-Becker, F., Schenck-Yglesias, C., Ainslie, R., Borda, M., Bergen, G., et al. (2004) Community Mobilization Report. Impact Evaluation of the Community Mobilization And Behavior Change Program MNH in Guatemala. The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD.

Fonseca-Becker, F., Cordon, O., Ainslie, R., Borda, M., Bergen, G., et al. (2004) ‘Informe del Estudio de Población - Evaluacion de Impacto del Componente de Cambio de Conducta y Movilizacion Comunitaria en el Manejo de Emergencias Obstetricas y Neonatales.” The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD.

Fonseca-Becker, F., Valladares, R., Hurtado, L., Monzon, I, de León, P., Margos. D., Schenck-Yglesias, C. (2003) "Impact Evaluation Community Mobilization and Behavior Change, Maternal and Neonatal Health Component: Case Study". The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Communication Programs. Baltimore, MD. Can be downloaded from: http://www.jhuccp.org/pubs/cp/MNHGuatemala/casestudywithcover_english.pdf

Braud, E, Sienche C, Fonseca-Becker, F., Bakadi, G. (2003) “Guinea’s Youth Driven Campaign Promotes the Right to Abstain or Use Condoms”. The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs, Communication Impact. Vol. 16. Can be downloaded: http://www.jhuccp.org/pubs/ci/16/16.pdf

Fonseca-Becker, F., Rinehart, W., Mwebesa, W., Kestler, E. (2002). Capacity Building in Reproductive Health: Synergy of Training and Access to Information in Public Hospitals in Guatemala. SP24 (English and Spanish). The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Communication Programs. Baltimore, MD.

Barrillas, E., Valladares, R., Bassett, S., Fonseca-Becker, F., Rose, M. (2001). Assessment of the Quality of Maternity Registers in Guatemala. MEASURE Evaluation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. Can be downloaded from: http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/publications/pdf/sr-02-10.pdf

Matute, J., Fonseca-Becker, F. (2001). Calidad de Servicios en Hospitales Publicos de Guatemala y Uso de Productos del Programa de Información en Población. Population Information Program, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, M.D.

Barrillas, E., Valladares, R., Fonseca-Becker, F. (2001). Perspectiva Comunitaria Sobre Embarazo, Parto y Post Parto en los Departamentos de Quiche, Solola y San Marcos. Maternal Neonatal Health Program, Center for Communication Programs, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, M.D.