The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41320

Mimi Kiser¹, Gary Gunderson¹, and Michelle C. Kegler, DrPH². (1) Interfaith Health Program, Emory University, 750 Commerce Dr. Suite 301, Decatur, GA 30033, 404-592-1461, mkiser@emory.edu, (2) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

The purpose of the Institute for Public Health and Faith Collaborations is to create a unique learning model and environment for leaders from both practice fields to develop collaborative skills for aligning and leveraging their respective strengths. The initiative is designed with two overarching goals: 1) to link and enhance the existing strengths within categorically funded initiatives, leadership institutes and programs, religious health foundations, and public health and religious academic partnerships; and 2) to maximize existing community assets by focusing on leadership skills necessary for effective collaboration between governmental and faith-based entities. The objectives to be achieved during the three-year project are as follows: 1. To develop a curriculum and training design to prepare leaders to work jointly in effective community scale change initiatives addressing categorical health issues of local concern across public health and faith disciplines; 2. To increase the number of public health and faith leaders and practitioners who have built collaborative relationships and learned skills to work jointly in effective community scale change initiatives addressing categorical health issues of local concern; and 3. To increase the ability of existing training infrastructures to respond to a growing demand for competency building in this field. This paper will be a summary of year one accomplishments including the convening of an interdisciplinary Design Team, the implementation of a pilot curriculum in a four-day Institute, and an evaluation of the first Institute.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the steps aimed at the development and implementation of a curriculum by an interdisciplinary design team.
• Idenify key elements of a training design aimed at building the capacity of public health and faith leaders to collaborate.
• Describe leadership competencies that are unique to collaboration between public health and faith leaders.

Keywords: Faith Community, Leadership

Related Web page: www.ihpnet.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This project is funded by a Cooperative Agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through ASPH.
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.