Amy S. Billing, MSSA¹, Nancy L. Atkinson, PhD¹, and Robert S. Gold, PhD, DrPH². (1) Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory, University of Maryland, Department of Public and Community Health, Suite 2387 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742-2611, 301-405-2468, billing@umd.edu, (2) Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory, University of Maryland, Department of Public and Community Health, Suite 2387 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742-2611

The University of Maryland’s Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory and the Maryland Cooperative Extension’s Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program have collaborated to develop an interactive web portal as part of a digital inclusion program. The project involves a comprehensive assessment of community needs and strengths, a community health promotion intervention, and evaluation components. The intervention mechanism of this project is a web portal that features tailored nutrition and physical activity information, links to local resources, and an online community exchange forum. The overall goal of the project is to improve the health of limited-resource populations in Maryland utilizing innovative methods. This presentation will re-examine the current state of the digital divide based on needs assessment data (survey and focus group data) collected from food stamp recipients in five rural Maryland counties, as well as qualitative feedback provided by project participants during the implementation phase of the project. The environmental climate and feasibility for implementing technology-based health promotion programs in these counties will also be discussed based on stakeholder interviews with technology professionals to include information on county goals and technology infrastructure. An overview of the web portal prototype and three project strategies for technology deployment in the pilot counties, including household computer access, community computer access, and a public media campaign advertising the website, will be provided. Finally, we will provide a snapshot look into our experiences in these counties, and provide suggestions on ways to address technology gaps and other barriers that were encountered during this process.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Explain the current needs and issues relevant to technology access and use among low income rural populations in Maryland.
• Describe the “technology environment” in rural communities in Maryland and its role in the development of an Internet-based health promotion program.
• Identify at least three key considerations when implementing an in-home or community technology-based health intervention with low income rural families and communities.

Keywords: Technology, Community-Based Health Promotion

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.