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

Abstract #112030

Jose Luis Melendrez, MSW¹, Maria Harris², Marta Rodriguez², Edie C. Kieffer, MPH, PhD¹, Tasha Toby, MPH³, Sherie Graham³, Anna Camacho¹, and Luther Brewster, PhD¹. (1) School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University, Room 3757, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734.615.7442, josel@umich.edu, (2) Healthy Mothers on the Move, University of Michigan-School of Social Work, 1 Ford Place, Ste. 1B, Detroit, MI 48202, (3) School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, M3531, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Healthy Mothers on the Move is a randomized clinical trial aimed at reducing risk factors for type 2 diabetes among pregnant and postpartum Latino and African American women in Detroit. Trained community Women's Health Advocates (WHAs) disseminate information, recruit participants, facilitate a culturally tailored curriculum, lead group discussions and activity days, and contribute to the evaluation and decision making process. Process evaluation in community based participatory research aims to provide information needed to modify implementation processes as needed and to guide future program initiatives, including recruitment, retention, and intervention participation rates; barriers and facilitators to participation; involvement in, and satisfaction with, intervention components and activities; fidelity of intervention components, and assessment and development of WHA staff in delivery of program. WHAs participate in evaluation through individual interviews, feedback forms, and focus groups. WHAs provide consultation through staff meetings and participation at steering committee meetings providing valuable insight for program delivery, problem solving and determining future direction of program. Preliminary findings suggest that the desire for social support is key to recruitment and retention of Latina program participants who also express desire to meet project physical activity and dietary goals. WHAs serving the Latinas say cultural norms contribute to project success with both home visits and meeting attendance. African American participants express a new sense of empowerment through their participation in program and request more communication and interaction with project staff. WHA staff will contribute to the presentation of these findings and share their experience as community health workers in Detroit.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be introduced to the methods and materials used for process evaluation with a community based participatory project. Participants will also learn about the significant role of social support in community based programs from the perspective of the WHA and evaluation team. Participants will be able to discuss the experience of WHA team members as community health workers and educators.

Keywords: Community Health Programs, Evaluation

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.