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

Abstract #57103

Marilyn Laken, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, 112 MUSC Complex - Suite 215, Charleston, SC 29425-2401, 843 792-2110, lakenm@musc.edu, Rosetta Swinton, BSN, RN, Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, Jeannette Jordan, RC, CDE, Office of Special Initiatives, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425, and Allen Parrott, D Min, Presiding Elder - Kingstree District AMEC, 603 Lamberts Dr, Ladson, SC 29456.

Reducing health disparities has been adopted as a national strategy to improve health outcomes. Many strategies have been proposed but most are hard to implement, reach small population, are expensive and difficult to sustain. Community/academic partnerships are proposed as a method to promote sustainable, community-based strategies and the internet may be a cost-efficient avenue to reach sizeable populations.

In 2001, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the 7th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to: (1) reduce the digital divide and (2) provide information about health risk, access to health care, and risk reduction programs to members of the AME Church. The 7th Episcopal District of the AME Church covers South Carolina and its 276,000 members comprise almost 23% of African Americans in the state. Further, the structure of the Church, through its administrative hierarchy, 609 rural and urban churches, and annual member conferences is an effective vehicle to implement this program.

The MOU requires shared decision-making on all facets of the program, shared credit, and shared responsibility for sustaining the website and its implementation. Two committees were formed, one to design the website and the other to evaluate it. This presentation describes the collaborative relationship and our success in implementing the website.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the learner will be able to:
• Create a memorandum of understanding between a faith community and a state agency as part of a partnership.
• Identify the components of a collaborative partnership.

Keywords: Faith Community, Health Information

Related Web page: Health-e-ame.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Medical University of South Carolina 7th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church
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.