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

Abstract #111877

Ann-Gel Palermo, MPH¹, Princess Fortin, BA², Jose Martin Garcia Orduna³, Sister Mary Nerney, CND⁴, Pat Monahan, MPH⁵, and Sarah Sisco, MPH, MSW². (1) Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1257, New York, NY 10029, 212-241-8886, ann-gel.palermo@mssm.edu, (2) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, (3) East Harlem HIV Care Network, 158 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029, (4) STEPS to End Family Violence, 1968 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10029, (5) Little Sisters of The Assumption Family Health Service, 333 East 115th St., New York, NY 10029

In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated the Urban Research Center (URC) to explore new methods in improving the health of urban populations through a community-based participatory research approach (CBPR). In 1999, The Harlem Urban Research Center (HURC), a community and academic partnership, was the last of three URC's established with a focus on examining social determinants of substance use through a CBPR approach. For five years, the HURC worked to build a shared vision, establish a structure, and manage a stream of national funding to engage in health promotion and disease prevention activities for the Harlem community. In early 2004, however, core funding for the URCs ceased due to a priority shift of the CDC. Out of a commitment to its mission and existing projects, members led the HURC through three major transitional phases in reinventing a new Harlem Community and Academic Partnership: (1) Reaction and prioritization, (2) Weathering through temporary funding, and (3) Sustaining a community and academic partnership. We will discuss the reinvention process, including strategies used, lessons learned, and barriers encountered in maintaining ongoing collaborations. We will share information about our current status, future directions, and recommendations for other CBPR partnerships that encounter cuts in funding.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

At the end of the session, participants will (
• Learn the function of a community and academic partnership and its role in a community. (
• Learn about strategies used and steps taken to weather through unstable funding periods. (
• Learn how to reinvent a community and academic partnership

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