Patricia A. Erwin, MPH and Cheuk Yee Charlene Au, BS. Newcomers Health Program, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1490 Mason Street #107, San Francisco, CA 94133, (415) 705-8552, patricia_erwin@sfgh.org

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) became a worldwide concern within a matter of weeks in 2003, and most acutely affected Asian communities. In many areas throughout the world, health departments quickly alerted the public and health providers about symptoms, prevention and treatment, and within a few months the situation was under control. In the midst of the crisis in San Francisco, a city with thousands of newly-arriving Chinese and Southeast Asian immigrants, a grant was written for a short-term program to educate this newcomer community and its providers about SARS. By early July, within two months of grant writing, funding was obtained from the California Refugee Health Section, and the program was underway. However, by this time the worldwide SARS crisis had ended, and there were very few confirmed cases and no major outbreaks in the San Francisco Bay Area. The SARS grant program staff assessed the situation and consulted with community leaders to determine how to proceed given the current situation. A decision was made to expand the program to ²SARS & Beyond², with broader communicable disease prevention messages and extensive community input to ensure community interest and cultural appropriateness. An innovative program that included education, information dissemination and evaluation was implemented. This presentation will focus on the steps taken to broaden the program¢s focus, involve community members, and develop culturally appropriate approaches in implementing and evaluating this successful communicable disease education program. Discussion will also include recommendations for applying similar approaches to other health issues or communities.

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

• List at least two strategies for developing, implementing and evaluating culturally appropriate programs to address communicable diseases among Chinese immigrants;
• Name at least one way to restructure a grant-funded program to respond to community issues and needs;
• Identify at least one recommendation for applying this information to address another health issue or work with diverse immigrant communities.

Keywords: Communicable Disease, Immigrants

Related Web page: www.dph.sf.ca.us/CHPP/newcomers/newcmrs.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: San Francisco Department of Public Health, Newcomers Health Program California Department of Health Services, Refugee Health Section
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment, grant

Handout (.ppt format, 3477.5 kb)