Recorded presentation

Edna Rivera Carrasco, BS¹, Mary E. Russell, MPH², Theresa Kane, BA³, Laura Bradeen³, and Mae Bradley, BA¹. (1) Committee for Boston Public Housing, Inc., 100 Terrace St, Suite B., Boston, MA 02120, 617-427-3556 Ext 206, cbph@verizon.net, (2) Public Health Consulting, 7 Bourne Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043-7000, (3) West Broadway Task Force, 81 Orton Marotta Way, Apt. 1076, South Boston, MA 02127

Woven from the threads of local community activism around asthma and healthy environments, several university/ public housing health and environment studies and the possibility of a HUD Healthy Homes project, the Healthy Public Housing Initiative collaboration emerged in 1999. The successes and the difficulties of the collaboration between the community, the city and three Boston public health schools will be examined for how it bridged the gulfs between the partners. The issues of sustained commitment, effective communication platforms and language occupied collaborative members and this work can inform other collaborations. Each sector took on different roles and responsibilities within the multi-year research and intervention effort coordinated by bi-weekly team meetings. Developing shared commitments to common goals was seen as an important ongoing process. Asking and trying to answer questions of importance to each partner involved recognizing the different voices and realities of each. The HPHI collaborative took steps towards developing findings relevant to community concerns and possible strategic community actions. A ‘model’ contract between community and university will be discussed highlighting process and outcome goals for developing collaboratives.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner)in this session will be able to

• Describe the facilitating factors and barriers encountered during the development of the HPHI community-city-university collaborative
• Articulate important elements for enhancing the development of a strong, long term community-city-university partnership
• Evaluate a model community-university contract as a possible tool for their own work

Keywords: Community Involvement, Public Housing

Related Web page: www.hsph.harvard.edu/hphi

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.

Recorded presentation