Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109871

Sylvia Wilber, MS, Master Key Consulting LLC, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, WI 20814, (301) 907-8789, swilber@masterkeyconsulting.com and Irene Anne Jillson, PhD, Master Key Consulting, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Integration of health and social services, in particular for communities in which there is a deficit in access to care for multiple health problems, has been of concern to communities and health and social policy makers for some time. Through several distinct projects over nearly a decade, the presenters have devised approaches for community-based organizations and a tribal college to collaborate on participatory, integrated multi-sector health and social services planning. They have used mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) survey research tools and processes, innovative approaches to engaging isolated and vulnerable populations, and creative use of training and other educational technology to incorporate tribal culture and traditions. They have also engaged service providers and the client community in dialogue regarding needs assessment and services evaluation. A hallmark of the work has been the development of a cadre of tribal members to design and undertake innovative research and health planning projects that are responsive to the needs of the population, culturally appropriate, and evidence-based. Health issues that have been addressed include, for example, risk-taking behavior among adolescents and youth, substance abuse prevention and treatment, allied health services of elders, and social service programs related to health issues. The presentation will describe the tools and methods that have been developed to engage communities in integrated health services planning and evaluation, the academic programs have been launched that include a focus on services integration, and the factors that facilitate and impede community participation in services integration for AI/AN and other communities.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the sesssion the participants will be able to identify and describe three approaches to engaging American Indian individuals and organizations in participatory health planning.
• At the end of the session participants will be able to select from an array of methods to integrate health and social services those most appropriate for the AI/AN community context.
• At the end of the session participants will be able to describe barriers to planning for integrated health and social services for the AI/AN population, and approaches to overcoming the barriers.

Keywords: Community Participation, American Indians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.