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

Abstract #110585

Julie Parrish St. John, MA, MPH, Independent Consultant, 5514 Roanwood, San Antonio, TX 78244, 210-666-9326, juliestjohn@sbcglobal.net, Michael R.J. Felix, Community Health Development Specialists, 3027 Walburt Ave, Allentown, PA 18104, James N. Burdine, DrPH, Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840, Monica L. Wendel, MA, MPH, Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840, Stacy Maines, BS, Center for Community Development, School of Rural Public Health, 1103 University Dr., 200, College Station, TX 77840, and Jeff Barstad, Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University HSC, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840.

The Center for Community Health Development (CCHD, School of Rural Public Health, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center) has facilitated a community-based health partnership (Estrella Saludable Starr County Health Partnership, ESSCHP) in Starr County—a rural county along the Texas-Mexico border—since August 2003. After undergoing a planning phase, the ESSCHP began an implementation phase, where task groups on diabetes and domestic violence implemented their recommendations. The ESSCHP formed a structure committee at this time (June 2004) to study/recommend possible structure types for long-term partnership sustainability. In September 2004, the county judge approached the ESSCHP about the possible need for a county health department. The structure committee agreed to conduct a ‘feasibility' study (November 2004-February 2005) on the establishment of a county health department and became the Health Advisory Panel (HAP) for Starr County. The study addressed five main topics: governance/structure; administration/financing; programs/services; county/state policies/ procedures; and roles/relationships between the county, state, and the ESSCHP. Methods to conduct the study included secondary data collection, key informant interviews, community discussion groups, interviews/research on comparable counties with health departments, and research on current state, county, and city health policies. After completing the study, the HAP presented the findings to county judge and commissioners' court. This session will discuss this unique and innovative approach of using a community health partnership to influence health policy development and program programming designed to reduce health disparities, improve population health status, and enhance quality of life.

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

1)list the 5 major topics/components covered in a feasibility study and how they relate to county health policies;
• identify the major barriers/challenges involved in establishing a county health department; and
• describe the relationship between the health advisory panel/ESSCHP and the county judge and commissioner’s court.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Health Departments

Related Web page: www.srph.tamhsc.edu/centers/chd/SCP.htm

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.

Recorded presentation