Participant Journey

Help give every child and teen the chance to grow up healthy

ECHO researchers hope to learn how our environment affects our health. This research program includes study sites at many locations in the United States, including the Yakima Valley. Dr. Catherine Karr, a pediatrician and researcher from the University of Washington (UW) leads the ECHO cohort in the Yakima area.  Dr. Karr’s team and the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic have worked together for many years on projects like this one. GAPPS has many years of experience doing research in Yakima.

This research can make a difference. To thank our participants for their time and efforts, we pay $75–$150 plus a $25 travel reimbursement for each visit completed, depending on specific visit details.  

Visits

  • Early Pregnancy
    This visit happens in your first or second trimester, a maximum 4 weeks after enrolling.

    You will come to our Yakima office for an in-person visit, where we will measure your height and weight, and collect urine, blood, and household water samples. We will also ask you to complete some surveys at home using your phone or computer.

  • Late Pregnancy
    This visit happens in your third trimester.

    You will come to our Yakima office for an in-person visit where we will measure your weight and height and collect urine and blood samples. We will also ask you to complete some surveys at home on your phone or computer. 

  • Delivery
    At the hospital

    After you have had your baby, hospital staff will collect blood from the umbilical cord after it has separated from your baby, as well as a piece of the placenta.

  • Newborn Visit
    This visit happens when your baby is 0–5 months old.

    This visit will be at our Yakima office. We will ask you to fill out some surveys on your phone or computer before the visit. During the visit, we will record your height and weight, and measure your baby’s length, weight, and head circumference. We will also collect small samples of your hair, blood, and breastmilk, as well as some of your baby’s urine and stool from a diaper.

  • Baby Visit
    This visit happens when your baby is 6–11 months old

    This visit will be at our Yakima office. We will ask you to fill out some surveys on your phone or computer before the visit. At the visit, we will measure your baby’s length and weight and collect a urine sample from you.

  • Age One Visit
    This visit happens when your child is one year old.

    This visit will be at our Yakima office. Before the visit we will have you fill out some surveys from home. At the visit, we will measure your child's length and weight. In addition, we will collect a small blood spot sample from you and from your child we will collect a small hair sample, urine from a diaper and a nasal swab.

  • Age Two Visit
    This visit happens when your child is two years old.

    This visit will be at our Yakima office. Before the visit we will have you fill out some surveys from home. At the visit, we will measure your child's height, weight, head circumference, and waist. In addition, we will collect a urine sample from you and from your child we will collect a nasal swab.

Our Yakima Team

Adriana Pérez

Field Manager

I am a Yakima County resident with nine years of experience in community outreach and engagement in the Yakima community. I have worked with families in the Yakima Valley and its surroundings, connecting them to resources and public health education. Also, I have six years of experience in coordinating community health programs at the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, including the Asthma Program, COVID Coordination Program, and Parents as Teachers. I now serve as the field manager for the ECHO Yakima Valley study with the University of Washington. As part of my role, I am responsible for participant recruitment and engagement, as well as retention and training of new study staff. 
Adriana headshot

Ashley Scott

Research Assistant

I moved to Yakima in 2016 for graduate school. I decided to call Yakima home due to the community and its culture. I have over 10 plus years of experience in the healthcare setting. For the past two years I’ve been an employee of Multicare Yakima Memorial Hospital before making the switch to a research assistant for ECHO Yakima Valley. Women’s health is a passion of mine. I look forward to doing my part to contribute to women’s and children’s research especially in the Yakima Valley.  
Ashley headshot

Vanessa Vidrios

Research Assistant

Hi, my name is Vanessa Vidrios, and I grew up in the Yakima Valley. I received my Bachelor of Science in General Biology from Washington State University. I have experience working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Additionally, I have worked at the Institute for Systems Biology and have two years of experience in blood processing and HPV related research. I currently work with GAPPS as a research assistant to support the ECHO study. My responsibilities as a research assistant are biospecimen collection as well as processing, storing and shipment of biospecimens from women and children enrolled in the study. 
Vanessa headshot

Berenize Canchola

Research Study Coordinator

My name is Berenize, and I was born and raised in the Lower Yakima Valley. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Heritage University and have seven years of experience in Public Health and Community Outreach. During my time with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, I provided resources and supported health education programs, including parenting and diabetes health classes, to families in the Yakima Valley. I have a passion for serving my community and improving health disparities, and I am delighted to join the ECHO team to contribute to family health research. 
Berenize headshot

Eric Gabino

Research Study Coordinator

My name is Eric, born and raised in the Lower Valley. I graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Public Health. Over the past four years, I've gained valuable experience working on research projects at UW prior to this study and with community-based organizations like Sea Mar in the Greater Seattle area. I have a deep love for my community and a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people who reside here. My passion for public health drives me to make a positive impact and support the communities I care about. Looking forward to working with the ECHO Yakima Valley Study team and contributing to research that will make a difference in improving the health of families in our community.
Eric headshot

Yocelin Guerrero

Research Assistant

Hi! My name is Yocelin Guerrero, and I was raised in the Yakima Valley. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Washington. I have worked for over 2 years in Pathology departments where I have accessioned, stored, and processed patient specimen samples. I enjoy helping others and I am thrilled to be working with GAPPS as a research assistant to contribute to research that will make a positive impact in the Yakima Valley. I look forward to assisting with biospecimen collection from participants in this study. 
Yocelin headshot

Frequently Asked Questions

 

ECHO stands for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes. ECHO is a large national research program supported by the US National Institutes of Health that aims to improve the health of children and teens in the United States. ECHO researchers want to learn how our environment affects our health. This research program includes study sites at many locations in the United States including the Yakima Valley. Up to 100,000 families will be part of the ECHO study.

Dr. Catherine Karr, a pediatrician and researcher from the University of Washington (UW), leads the ECHO cohort in the Yakima area.  Dr. Karr’s team is working with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic to recruit pregnant women. They have worked together for many years on projects like this one.

We already know that our environment can affect our health throughout our lives, and before we are even born. Now, ECHO wants to find out exactly how. ECHO researchers believe that where we live, our lifestyles, our surroundings, our relationships with others, and traits passed down from our families may all impact our health.

ECHO is inviting pregnant women who are:  

  • Age 18 – 45 years
  • Less than 18 weeks pregnant
  • Patients of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic

If you choose to participate in the ECHO study, you will have the chance to share your information with the ECHO study. At study visits, you may be asked to answer questions about your health and environment or to give samples like a urine sample. The timeline above explains each visit. If you decide to participate, you will receive up to $75-–$150 in gift cards per study visit, depending on visit details.

The study team can answer any questions you have about the study and what type of information will be collected. We know that privacy is important, and ECHO will take great care to protect your information. 

By taking part in ECHO, you will:

  • Contribute to important research to inform child health programs, policies, and practices
  • Help us learn more about how our environment can affect our health
  • Allow us to answer questions about how to improve the health of children across the country 

If you are ready to join the study please fill out this short survey

Additionally you can call or text us at 206-616-4691 or email us at echo-study@uw.edu.

Join Now

If you are ready to join the study please fill out this short survey

Additionally you can call or text us at 206-616-4691 or email us at echo-study@uw.edu.