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

Abstract #114052

Michael Spencer, PhD¹, Gloria Palmisano, BS, MA², Edith C. Kieffer, MPH, PhD¹, Michele Heisler, MD, MPA¹, Gwendolyn Graddy-Dansby, MD³, and J. Ricardo Guzman, MSW, MPH⁴. (1) School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, (2) REACH Detroit Partnership, Community Health & Social Services Center, Inc., One Ford Place, Suite 1-B, Detroit, MI 48202, (313) 874-7131, gpalmisano@chasscenter.org, (3) Institute on Multicultural Health, Henry Ford Health System, 1 Ford Place, Suite 3E, Detroit, MI 48202, (4) Community Health & Social Services Center, Inc, 5635 W. Fort, Detroit, MI 48209

The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Detroit Partnership and describe the results of a four-year process evaluation of the Partnership's Steering Committee. The presentation highlights the Partnership's goal of increasing the capacity of the Steering Committee to develop, enhance and maintain the organizational linkages and assets needed to reduce disparities in diabetes in the REACH Detroit communities. The process evaluation utilizes semi-structured, in-person interviews with Steering Committee members in Year 2 and Year 4, ongoing participant observation, and focus groups with project staff. Qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed using inductive, content analysis techniques. Major accomplishments of the REACH Detroit Partnership includes the successful funding of a multi-ethnic collaboration between African American and Latino communities, local health systems, and the university and the group's adherence of community-based participatory principles. Challenges include threats to sustainability, role definition of community partners, and the ongoing commitment of Partnership members. The results of the process evaluation have implications for capacity building and developing successful community partnerships aimed at reducing health disparities. Action strategies for overcoming challenges and barriers to effective partnerships are discussed.

Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to

• Articulate the goals and objectives of the REACH Detroit Partnership;
• Describe the results of Partnership Steering Committee process evaluation;
• Discuss ways for building on successes and strategies for overcoming barriers to collaboration.

Keywords: Evaluation, Community-Based Partnership

Related Web page: www.reachdetroit.org

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.