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Abstract #150876

Michael Spencer, PhD¹, Carlos Zometa, PhD, MSPH¹, Gloria Palmisano, BS, MA², Edith Kieffer, PhD¹, Jenay Karlson¹, Gwendolyn Knight¹, Karen Tabb, MSW³, Ricardo Guzman, MSW, MPH⁴, Gwendolyn Graddy-Dansby, MD⁵, Cheryl Tannas⁶, Zachary Rowe⁷, Carolyn Jennings⁸, and Michele Heisler, MD, MPA⁹. (1) School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, 734 764-7224, spencerm@umich.edu, (2) REACH-Detroit Partnership, 2727 Second Ave., Detroit, MI 48201, (3) Case Western Reserve University, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, MetroHealth Medical Center Rammelkamp Bldg R207, 2500 Metro Health Dr., Cleveland, OH 44109, (4) Community Health & Social Services Center, Inc, 5635 W. Fort St, Detroit, MI 48209, (5) Henry Ford Health System, One Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48201, (6) School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Medical Education, G1100 Towsley, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (7) Friends of Parkside, PO Box 13168, Detroit, MI 48213, (8) Southeast Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network, 1900 E. Jefferson, Suite 222, Detroit, MI 48207, (9) Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, VA HSR & D, PO Box 130170, Ann Arbor, MI 48113

This presentation describes the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the REACH Detroit Partnership, an inter-ethnic, community-based, participatory research project aimed at eliminating disparities in diabetes among African American and Latino residents of Eastside and Southwest Detroit. This CDC-funded partnership has been conducting a multi-level, integrated intervention from 2000-2007.

We focus on the results of personal interviews with the 15 members of the REACH Detroit Steering Committee, which includes representatives from community-based agencies, health systems, city and state health departments, and researchers. The results of the interviews are compiled and presented for analysis and interpretation annually to the Steering Committee at monthly meetings. Other data sources, including progress reports and meeting minutes, were also useful for highlighting accomplishments and lessons learned over the course of the partnership.

Several themes emerged over the years that facilitated the success of REACH Detroit, including: (1) an empowerment approach that builds the capacity of residents, health professionals, and community organizations to promote healthy lifestyles; (2) the development and implementation of a community action plan that largely met its objectives; (3) successful dissemination of findings to community residents, health professionals, and researchers through presentations at community events and forums, continuing medical education courses, and academic publications; and (4) sustainability, through grants, consultation, and community capacity building activities. We also describe efforts aimed at increasing the capacity of Steering Committee itself and current plans for creating a national center of excellence. Barriers to success and implications for policy and program development are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the successes and challenges of the REACH Detroit Partnership, a CBPR project aimed at eliminating disparities in diabetes among African American and Latino residents.
• Apply the lessons learned to develop successful a successful community-academic partnership.
• Discuss the implications for health disparties policy and program development across two racial/ethnic groups in community-based settings.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Diabetes

Related Web page: www.reachdetroit.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.