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

Abstract #61475

Michelle C. Kegler, DrPH¹, Helen H Singer, MPH¹, Sally Whitecrow-Ollis, MS², and Kristin Thomas, MA². (1) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404/712-9957, mkegler@sph.emory.edu, (2) TEAL-Wyandotte Nation, Emory University, PO Box 250, Wyandotte, OK 74370

Although community capacity is often mentioned as an important outcome from community-based health promotion programs, few evaluations attempt to document changes in capacity. The evaluation of Tribal Efforts Against Lead, a collaboration between tribes, schools, local agencies and universities in northeastern Oklahoma, included an assessment of changes in capacity. Community leader surveys (n=137 and n=116) and organizational network interviews (n=23 and n=22) were conducted before and after a lay health advisor intervention to prevent lead poisoning. Concepts measured include: network density and intensity at three stages of collaboration (information exchange, joint planning and formal relationships); placement of lead poisoning prevention on the public agenda; leader knowledge levels, attitudes, effort and concern about lead poisoning prevention; organizational efforts; and inter-organizational efforts in lead poisoning prevention. Changes were assessed for the general community as a whole, as well as separately for the Native American and non-Native American communities. Native American-specific results show significant positive changes in: leader effort (p<.001), organizational effort (p=.044) and knowledge of lead poisoning prevention (p=035). Changes in the non-Native American community include opinions about Superfund activities (p=.058) and a decrease in leader concern about lead poisoning prevention (p=.048). Implications of these findings for future evaluations of community capacity will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
• list at least four measurable dimensions of community capacity
• describe several approaches to evaluating changes in community capacity

Keywords: Community Capacity, Evaluation

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.