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

Abstract #64359

Murlisa Lockett, MA¹, Sheryl Weir, MPH², Sharon Sand, MPP³, Zachary Rowe, BS⁴, Amy Schulz, PhD⁵, Cindy Jones⁶, Yolanda Hill, MSW¹, and Edith A. Parker, DrPH⁷. (1) Detroit Health Department, 1151 Taylor Rm 646B, Detroit, MI 48202, 313-876-4444, robinsonmu@health.ci.detroit.mi.us, (2) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (3) East Side Village Health Worker Partnership, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, M5065, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (4) Friends of Parkside, P.O. Box 13168, Detroit, MI 48213, (5) Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 5134 SPH II, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (6) East Side Village Health Worker, 5002 Seminole, Detroit, MI 48213, (7) Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029

This presentation will describe a long-range planning process undertaken by the East Side Village Health Worker Partnership. We will discuss the processes used to engage multiple partners, including community residents who are lay health advisors and members of the Steering Committee, in a process designed to determine core values, structural aspects of the project, and develop priorities for sustaining the Partnership over the long term. We will present a summary of the results from focused group discussions regarding the challenges as well as the strengths of the existing project, and describe the translation of those challenges and strengths into a plan for future action. Finally, we will discuss both challenges and opportunities associated with sustaining community initiatives involving lay health workers over the long haul.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a process for engaging multiple partners in a long range planning process.
• Articulate challenges and opportunities associated with sustaining community initiatives involving lay health workers.

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.