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

Abstract #115739

Anita Hawkins, PhD, Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, 443-885-3567, ahawkin2@jewel.morgan.edu

Organizations that address problems affecting the health and well being of our communities are expected to do more than merely provide a service to those in need. It is not enough to “do” good work; there must be evidence of work that is “good”. Thus, the current emphasis on evidenced-based strategies (work that is good) may frequently appear at odds with the mission and ministry of faith organizations to do “good work”. To “do” good work highlights the value in what is done -- the process, while to do work that is “good”, concentrates on the results or outcomes of the effort. This perceptual distinction may pose a significant challenge to engaging in community- based participatory research that involves faith-based organizations and faith-based communities. This session will highlight the challenges facing researchers working with faith-based organizations and the dilemmas facing members of faith communities working with secular communities on common issues and concerns, especially in the process of assessing the evidence gathered through the community research process. A collaborative effort involving two faith organizations, a community youth organization and an evaluation firm will be discussed to illustrate how these divergent perspectives may be reconciled to promote effective collaboration for program planning, implementation and evaluation.

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion of the session, participants will be able to
• Describe systems of beliefs that may impede the process of collaboration
• Articulate the respective assumptions governing the rules of evidence for researchers, secular community-based organizations and faith-based organizations
• Apply a cultural framework to identify characteristics which may be associated with effective collaboration among secular organizations and faith-based organizations

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Faith Community

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.