The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44552

Seunghyun Yoo, DrPH, MPH¹, Nathan Weed, MPH², Michele Lempa, MPH², Mwende Mbondo, MSPH³, Rachel Shada, MHR¹, and Robert Goodman, PhD, MPH, MA⁴. (1) School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, SL-29, Suite 2324, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-1367, syoo@tulane.edu, (2) Department of Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, SL-29, Suite 2327, New Orleans, LA 70112, (3) Center for Applied Environmental Public Health, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, (4) Community Health Sciences, Tulane school of public health and tropical medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Tidewater Building, New Orleans, LA 70112

Community capacity building requires collaboration at multiple levels. This affects not only the community as a group, but also individual members participating in the process by increasing their capacity to network, to identify concerns, and to strategize community plans. In a community empowerment project initiated by a relationship-building research project, four community groups and a university collaborated. Community members and university facilitators brainstormed to share goals and identify concerns. Then techniques such as prioritization and strategic planning were introduced to the community. The identified community concerns included education, drugs, damaged houses, and blighted properties. Community groups built strategies to resolve these problems with assistance of university facilitators. Based upon the social ecological model, each community group developed its own strategic model by the end of the project. Effective group processes were enhanced by the community°¯s ability to organize, set priorities, and identify strategies. Close internal and external communication, record keeping, and maintaining a consistent core group of people were indicative of success. Networking opportunities with other community groups, organizations, and key officials motivated the community groups to remain focused and proceed with their action plans. Securing consistent meeting locations was also important for maintaining continuing community efforts. As for facilitators, it is recommended to keep close and open communication with community members, especially leaders, and organizations and be updated with the current trends in the community. Routine debriefing of group process among facilitators and ongoing training are also necessary to provide appropriate coordination.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants will be able to
• Identify the process employed in a community empowerment project to address community concerns
• Discuss the importance of using a concrete model to facilitate strategic planning
• Discuss successes and challenges for communities and project facilitators in developing community strategies

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.