The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

3028.0: Monday, November 17, 2003 - Board 5

Abstract #53734

Building healthy communities in environmental justice areas: Health communication solutions

Janine Margaret Legg, MBA, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College, 295 E. Swedesford Rd., PMB #253, Wayne, PA 19087, 610-203-0352, jlegg@brynmawr.edu

The main health communication challenge in environmental justice is poor risk communication. Building Healthy Communities in Environmental Justice Areas ("Health EJA") assists the public health professional in analyzing the health communication issues in a specific environmental justice area so that solutions can be posed. The model includes: 1) assessment of risk from pollution; 2) identification of the affected population; 3) identification of risk communication issues in the affected population; 4) identification of the political issues of health and the effective mechanisms and resources to diffuse the issues; 5) identification of barriers to risk communications; 6) development of effective risk communication messages for the affected population; 7)identification of resources needed to address risk communication issues; 8) development of health education curricula for specific cultures about the risks from the pollution based upon a backwards design and using multiple intelligence activities; 9) planning of town meetings between residents and agency personnel; 10) conducting individual interviews between residents and agency personnel to gather information; 11) making health communication information available via agency websites for residents regarding health effects from pollution; and 12)instituting a method for referral of issues raised by residents to other federal,state, OR local agencies for criminal enforcement and civil rights issues. Health EJA proposes precise community risk communications with the expected outcomes of decrease in disease and exposure to disease in the affected population.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Environmental Justice,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Montgomery County Community College
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.

Environmental Health Policy Strategies Poster Session

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA