SABER Circle: A Peer Learning and Support Space for Community-based professionals based on the ECHO Model

Promoting shared wisdom/sabiduria, mutual support/apoyo, and emotional well-being/bienestar (listening/escucha, reflection/reflexion) among those serving immigrant communities. 

Background 

Community-based professionals serving Latine immigrant families, such as those in Judy Centers, WIC offices, schools, and libraries, are on the frontlines of a deepening crisis. These trusted and compassionate staff are increasingly approached with difficult questions about deportation, trauma, grief, and mental health, often without adequate emotional or institutional support. Many professionals experience burnout, isolation, and the weight of secondary trauma. 

Our multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers and public health researchers has a longstanding commitment to advancing health equity in immigrant Latine communities. In response to the urgent need to sustain and support this vital workforce, we are launching a new initiative using the ECHO model to create a shared space for growth, support, and professional development. 

Program Overview 

This virtual series provides a structured, peer-led space where professionals can: 

• Reflect on how their work impacts their emotional and psychological well-being 

• Share challenges and successes with peers who understand the context 

• Receive actionable tools, expert insights, and helpful resources 

• Sustain their sense of purpose and mission through community connection 

Using the ECHO model, which centers case-based learning and collaborative peer reflection, each session features: 

• A short participant-led case or topic presentation (no identifying information required) 

• Facilitated group discussion grounded in mutual respect and problem-solving 

• A resource spotlight relevant to the discussion theme 
• A reflective prompt focused on personal or professional successes 

Goals 

• Support the emotional well-being of professionals working with Latino immigrant communities 

• Foster social support and provide professional development opportunities for participants 

• Provide a safe and professional space to reflect on shared challenges and develop peer-informed strategies 

• Promote sustainable, trauma-informed practices in community-facing roles 

• Honor the lived expertise and dedication of frontline staff by facilitating connection, learning, and resilience