3113.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - 3:35 PM

Abstract #13515

Managing the process of community health assessment and problem prioritization: What we've learned through experience

Judith A. Hager, MPH and Geraldine Oliva, MD. Family and Community Medicine, Family Health Outcomes Project, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St., Suite 365, San Francisco, CA 94118, 415 502-3247, jhager@itsa.ucsf.edu

The University of California San Francisco Family Health Outcomes Project (FHOP) has developed a planning guide "Developing an Effective Planning Process; A Guide for MCH Programs. Several tools have been included in the planning guide to assist in the process of identifying and selecting indicators of community health status and/or conducting a process for identifying and prioritizing health problems and health systems issues. Over the past few years the guide and these tools have been used by FHOP staff, as well as by state and local public health agency staff and consultants, with diverse groups in various agency and community settings. Through these experiences, information has been gathered about essential steps as well as mistakes and successes that are relevant to administrators and program managers overseeing a health status assessment and prioritization process. The purpose of this presentation is to provide administrators with information to enable them to select appropriate consultants or staff to lead and facilitate the process; identify the basic steps and considerations when planning the data compilation and prioritization processes; and assure the administrator's objectives for the prioritization process are met. The presentation will include 1) an overview of the FHOP recommended prioritization process and the necessary preparatory steps, 2) a summary of common challenges and mistakes in this and other prioritization processes and 3) recommended essential methods of preparing for, avoiding and managing these challenges to increase the probability of a successful outcome.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation session participants will be able to: 1) describe a method of assessing community health status and identifying and prioritizing community health problems 2) identify the necessary steps in planning for the community health prioritization process 3) identify the consultant or staff member skills necessary to guide a community health prioritization process and, thus, select the appropriate person(s)

Keywords: Community Health Assessment, Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Family Health Outcomes Project, University of California, San Francisco
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA