Online Program

282399
Multisector approach to health equity through systems change, community engagement, and evaluation


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

Stacey King, MS, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Susan Breen, MS, RN, Division of Public Health Nursing Services, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Moacir Barbosa, Training and Capacity Building, Health Resources in Action, Boston, MA
Josefine Wendel, MS, RD, LDN, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Dawn Olcott, MS, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Albert W. Pless, MS, The Men's Health League, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Jennifer Baily, MA, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Barbara Meade, MSN, RN, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
Virginia Chomitz, PhD, The Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, MA
Claude-Alix Jacob, MPH, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, MA
In 1992, Cambridge, MA undertook a seminal community health assessment, “Health of the City,” spawning decades of planning, policy development, innovative programming and collaborations, and evaluation. Today, Cambridge is one of the healthiest cities in Massachusetts, despite wide diversity in income and education levels among a population that is approximately 26% foreign-born. Significant progress has been measured in the areas of healthy eating, active living, and supporting and strengthening families. For over 20 years, coalitions like the Healthy Children Task Force and the Men of Color Task Force have galvanized partnerships, innovation, and progress in the development of BMI and fitness report cards, culturally appropriate, healthy school menu items, and men's health programming. Inclusive collaboration among public health, government, business, academia and residents effectively guides policies and environmental approaches like a 2008 trans fat ban, progressive urban planning, and services for underserved families. A new multisector Food and Fitness Policy Council will guide future directions impacting citywide wellness. With its health department embedded in a larger healthcare delivery system, Cambridge is uniquely positioned to address some health issues seamlessly. This arrangement enables school nurses to communicate directly with students' PCPs through EMR; a new school-based concussions clinic benefits from clinical staff's access to athletics programs. Similarly, the Men's Health League connects men to clinical care, while also offering community-based wellness programming. Integration of services, a proactive data-driven approach, and a highly networked and collaborative environment provide a strong foundation for achieving health equity for all residents.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Program planning
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe policies and systems changes that have been implemented using collaborative, multi-sector approaches to healthy eating, active living, and strengthening families. Identify mechanisms to improve health equity through culturally competent policies and program design. Demonstrate data and evaluation strategies that inform community health improvement.

Keyword(s): Community-Based Partnership, Community Health Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I oversee community health and wellness programs for Cambridge Public Health Department, and have participated in numerous initiatives described in this presentation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.