6004.0: Thursday, November 16, 2000 - Table 6

Abstract #6496

The African-American Church as a Community Development Agent

Mary S. Sutherland, EdD, MPH, Curriculum and Instruction, The Florida State University, 209 MCH, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Tallahassee, FL 32306, 850 644 2122, msutherl@garnet.acns.fsu.edu and Gregory J. Harris, MASS, HPPI, Area Agency on Aging for North Florida, Inc, 2639 N. Monroe Street, Suite 145B, Tallahassee, FL 32303.

The Council of Church Based Health Promotion Program, Inc. 30 rural, African-American North Florida churches is concerned with the health of their church members. Funded activities, since 1988 addressed such health areas or populations as senior citizens cardiovascular health; cardiovascular health; at-risk youth drug behaviors; breast and cervical cancer screening; or senior citizens care-giving activities. All programs were judged to be successful, per pre-determined evaluation requirements, i.e., reduction in blood pressure; number of individuals screened for cancer and referred for further medical services; increasing number of youth continuing their education after high school; or significant delay in initial drug use.

The Council identified potential partnership funding sources for a group concerned about the health of the total community. Community organizations (Zetz Phi Beta, Minority Businesses, Chamber of Commerce, Beauticians and Barbers, Rotary, Moose, etc.), governmental agencies (Health Department, Cooperative Extension, County Government, City Government, Juvenile Justice, Senior Citizens, etc.) or groups (Masons/Eastern Star, New Golden Keys, etc.) cooperatively developed programmatic ideas. The presentation will apply theory (Southwestern DSFC Community Development and Hawkins Risk Factors) to practice, citing specific community readiness, needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation examples. The churches role (community and economic development, changing community values, providing programmatic leadership, or changing youth practices) and relationship (peer, fiscal provider, or differing cultures) with other community

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the audience will be familiar with at least 10 proven community development strategies

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Faith Community

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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA