The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39145

Suzette Rochat Harris, MPH and Vikki C. Lassiter, BS. Health Promotion Department, Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, 219 N. Broad St, Suite 2, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-564-9800, sharris@arthritisfoundation-epa.org

The Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter is working to deliver effective interventions to those of greatest risk of arthritis and its complications. As part of our Urban Outreach initiatives, we have formed a partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to increase implementation of the Arthritis Self-Help Course (ASHC) throughout the city’s eight health centers. ASHC is an evidence-based six-week program that has consistently been shown to reduce pain and physician visits for participants. The Arthritis Self-Help Course and its Spanish equivalent, Como convivir con su artritis, which was specifically designed for Latinos, is highly participative and entails topics such as pain management, exercise, relieving stress and alternative treatments. Lay health educators, who are recruited and trained by the Arthritis Foundation, teach the Arthritis Self-Help Course. This presentation will focus on the delivery of the Arthritis Self-Help Course throughout Philadelphia, serving primarily the African-American and Latino communities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants will be able to

• Identify effective strategies for developing collaborations and partnerships.
• Develop a plan to recruit and maintain a lay health educator network.
• Describe the importance of developing partnerships to expand outreach efforts.

Keywords: Urban Health, Lay Health Workers

Related Web page: www.arthritis.org/communities/chapters/chapter.asp?chapid=18

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.