The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4108.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - Board 9

Abstract #42493

Health planning that magnifies the community's voice: Allies against asthma

Frances D. Butterfoss, PhD1, Jude Taylor-Fishwick, MPH1, and Cynthia Kelly, MD2. (1) Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Center for Pediatric Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 W. Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-668-6329, fbutterf@chkd.com, (2) Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507

Background: Collaborative community-based planning to address an identified public health issue is challenging. Research with coalitions and partnerships for health promotion demonstrates that community members need assistance in planning effective programs. Following a 9-month needs assessment, 25 members of Allies Against Asthma (AAA), a working group of the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), developed a 3-year comprehensive plan to improve management of childhood asthma in Hampton Roads. Hampton Roads encompasses 7 cities and 3 rural counties in eastern Virginia. The planning process relied on community participation, training and evaluation. Method: The skill-building method included: 1) involving community members early in the needs assessment process; 2) conducting workshop and planning sessions to assist community members in developing goals, objectives and interventions for identified needs and priority groups; 3) helping members develop a comprehensive plan with timeline, budget, management grid and evaluation methods; 4) evaluating the process with the Plan Quality Index (PQI) and the Planning Process Survey (PPS). Results: The 3-year plan was submitted in October 2001 and subsequently funded. Eighteen of twenty-five (72%) AAA members completed the PPS. 100% were satisfied with the planning process, 88% felt the plan reflected the needs assessment, and 86% agreed the plan would effectively reduce childhood asthma. Five of six (83%) planning experts from the community completed the PQI and rated the AAA plan as moderately high (74 out of 90 points). Conclusion: With training and technical assistance, community partners can develop a comprehensive action plan that reflects community needs.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the end of this session, participants will be able to

    Keywords: Community Health Planning, Asthma

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:
    I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
    Relationship: Research supported by grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

    Community Collaboratives Address the Uninsured and Expand Health Care Opportunities

    The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA