Community partnerships play an important role in supporting grassroots efforts that improve quality of life and empowerment. They are also instrumental in the development of systematic evaluation tools that capture locally relevant changes. This presentation describes an ongoing community-based empowerment project and its evaluation. This project is the result of a joint partnership between the county health department, a local university, and local health organizations. The project aims to empower women and mothers (WAMs) to promote timely and complete immunization for two year olds in south central Los Angeles. Project methodology includes: (1) a process evaluation and a two-step baseline needs assessment consisting of focus groups and systematic interviews; (2) participatory planning and evaluation; (3) empowerment training and immunization education in exchange for (4) WAMs door-to-door outreach, group education, referrals and case-management; and (5) the transition of complete ownership of the project to the community. Most WAMs reported a high initial personal, organizational and community empowerment level, using a revised version of the Detroit Area Study empowerment scale. Monthly reports indicate increasing competence and confidence in performing their role as promotoras and having marketable skills. The authors will also discuss the lessons learned and the health outcomes resulting from this community partnership. Given the high baseline empowerment level, we haven't seen a dramatic change over the course of the project. Instruments have to be culturally competent, specific to the target community and sensitive to small changes. This empowerment model is a promising approach to increasing immunization rates in an underserved community.
Learning Objectives: 1. At the end of the presentation, the participant should be able to describe how to use an empowerment model to promote immunizations in a hard-to-reach population. 2. In addition, the participant will be able to describe the design and results of the project's baseline assessment and process evaluation
Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Immunizations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.