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

Abstract #60794

Rachel Davis, MSW, Larry Cohen, MSW, Shailushi Baxi, MPH, and Danice Cook. Prevention Institute, 265 29th Street, Oakland, CA 94611, 510-444-7738, rachel@preventioninstitute.org

Low-income, communities of color are disproportionately impacted by incidence of disease and injury. Often this fact is attributed to the prevalence of specific risk factors in those communities; however, it is just as important to look at ways in which community factors might encourage health. Financial, racial, and ethnic health disparities can be tempered by identifying and building on existing community resilience. Resilience is the ability to thrive despite risk factors, and studies show that resilience factors can counteract the negative impact of risk factors.

The building blocks of healthy communities include safe parks, effective education, available healthy foods, community gathering places, health and social services, and locally owned businesses. Research confirms this. For instance, social cohesion corresponds with significant increases in physical and mental health, academic achievement, and local economic development, as well as lower rates of homicide, suicide, and alcohol abuse.

Through an environmental scan of existing efforts and consultation with an expert panel, Prevention Institute identified multiple community resilience factors—such as Activity and Nutrition Promoting Environments, Civic Engagement, Cultural/Artistic Opportunities, and Economic Capital—that, when fostered, strengthen health and safety outcomes in the community. These factors are the basis of a qualitative assessment tool called T.H.R.I.V.E. (Tool for Health and Resilience In Vulnerable Environments), which is designed to help communities identify existing strengths, set appropriate priorities, and advance changes to support health, including local policy change. The tool is being piloted in 2 US communities. The presentation will highlight the T.H.R.I.V.E. tool and the pilot process.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the importance of identifying and building on community resilience in efforts to encourage health in disenfranchised communities.
• Be able to identify specific resilience factors measured by the T.H.R.I.V.E. tool.

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.

Handout (.pdf format, 193.8 kb)