Session: Linking Health Disparities and Environmental Justice: Promoting Community/Public Health Partnerships

4107.0: Tuesday, November 9, 2004: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Oral

Linking Health Disparities and Environmental Justice: Promoting Community/Public Health Partnerships

There is increasing evidence that a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality exists within communities of color who are exposed to environmental hazards. Eliminating health disparities requires that all stakeholders work together for the mutual benefit of impacted communities, researchers and governmental officials. Collaborative partnerships between communities, public health researchers are increasingly being promoted to ensure that research and programs are relevant meaningful to the community and culturally appropriate. How community is defined, how community representation is achieved and how to engage community members in meaningful roles are major challenges faced when striving to build healthy communities through environmental justice. This session will explore challenging issues outlined in case studies of participatory community efforts that address health disparities and environmental quality along with recommendations for further federal support of these efforts.

Learning Objectives: Methods and models, examples, challenges and barriers, benefits, why is there a need.

Moderator(s):

Richard Moore

12:30 PM

Building community/public health partnerships for environmental justice