In an effort to shape the focus of the City's public health initiatives for the up-coming year, the Board of the Boston Public Health Commission hosts a series of community meetings throughout the neighborhoods of Boston annually. An extensive outreach effort is made through various partnering and networking endeavors with health centers and other community-based organizations to reach all members of a neighborhood, particularly the most disenfranchised. At these meetings, community members are presented with a series of health status indicators germane to their discreet neighborhood as well as City-wide indicators which offer to the community members a comparative overview of their health status in relation to other City residents. Participants in the meeting are asked to speak openly and honestly about their health concerns and needs, particularly with regard to perceived disparities in health care. Data from each meeting are collected and prioritized and are subsequently presented to the full Board for program planning and policy development consideration. The presentation will highlight the positive outcomes realized by this process.
Learning Objectives: This presentation will highlight the positive outcomes realized by this collaborative effort of a local Board of Health in conjunction with various community-based organizations in an effort to effect program and policy development which will address disparites in healthcare for residents in the City of Boston
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.