Designing a road map for health promotion at Hill Health Center in New Haven, CT

Karen Cheung, BA in MCB¹, Lisa M. DiFedele, BA in MCDB², Flavia Silva de Paula¹, and Edward J. Angeli, MS, RD³. (1) Global Health Division, Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, 367 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06511, (2) Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06511, 203-737-4063, lisa.difedele@yale.edu, (3) Director of Health Promotion, WIC and Nutrition Department, Hill Health Center, 428 Columbus Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519

Background: Community health centers (CHC) are vital to medically underserved populations because they provide accessible and comprehensive health care in areas where economic, geographic, and/or cultural barriers limit access to these services. In order to be effective, CHCs must target the needs of the population and provide appropriate care. This study reflects the work of Hill Health Center (HHC), a community health center that provides primary and preventative care to the working poor, homeless, uninsured, and elderly population of the greater New Haven area in Connecticut.

Purpose: This study reports on the development of a community-based strategic plan for health promotion among the adult patient population of HHC. Working with clients and clinical providers, a public health consulting team identified service needs of this diverse patient pool in order to guide HHC’s development of future health interventions.

Methods: Data collection procedures included a customized survey instrument and focus group discussions used with both patients and providers of HHC. Data analysis included descriptive statistics of client/provider service gaps and identification of current effective programs. Differences between providers and patients were compared to detect any serious gaps in perceptions of existing services. The qualitative data was coded for service gaps and strengths specific to health promotion services.

Expected Outcome: This study will create a strategic plan for proactive health promotion to be used by HHC’s Department of Health Promotion. From a thorough needs assessment, HHC will be able to better provide its underserved patients with health promotion/education interventions that adequately meet the identified needs of the community.

Learning Objectives:

After viewing the poster presentation of Designing a road map for health promotion at Hill Health Center in New Haven, CT, the observer should be able to

1) Articulate a procedure for defining the needs of a population served by a Community Health Center (CHC) including barriers faced in full utilization of services offered.
2) Develop a strategic health promotion plan in response to the needs and barriers identified and given organizational and resource constraints defined by the CHC.

Keywords: Needs Assessment, Community Health Centers

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.

Using Methodological Tools as a Framework for Services and Planning

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA