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

Abstract #115316

Elizabeth S. Maker, DrPH, Sandra E. Gálvez, MSW, and Mia Luluquisen, DrPH, MPH, RN. Community Assessment Planning and Education Unit, Alameda County Public Health Department, 1000 Broadway, Suite 500, Oakland, CA 94708, 510-267-8096, liz_maker@acgov.org

This session will discuss the results of the participatory evaluation for the Alameda County Public Health Department's (ACPHD) Mini-Grant Program, which grew out of its Community Health Teams (CHT). The CHT Initiative deployed teams of nurses and outreach workers to ten neighborhoods throughout the county to provide both nursing services and community capacity-building. The ACPHD tracked the outcomes of a CHT program, Mini-Grants (MG), which provided small stipends to voluntary groups to carry out community improvement projects. In 2002 and 2003, the ACPHD gave a total of fifty-one Mini-Grants in six neighborhoods.

The evaluation tracked changes in participating residents, funded groups and CHT staff. Methods included document review, participant-observation, focus groups and questionnaires.

The evaluation results showed that residents, funded groups and staff developed a range of skills and resources. MG participants increased their knowledge and skills for local community capacity-building and developed social capital. They increased their trust for their neighbors and the ACPHD and became more involved in their communities. Funded groups developed linkages with similar grassroots groups, CBOs and local government agencies. They also gained resources, including new funding. Funded groups also made health-promoting community changes, such as cleaner streets, community gardens, youth and exercise programs. ACPHD staff increased their community capacity-building skills, and became better able to do their jobs effectively.

This session will explore how the Mini-Grant program led to increased community capacity. It will also discuss how the ACPHD used evaluation results to modify the Mini-Grant program, and to develop additional interventions.

Learning Objectives: