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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kyle McPhee and Jodee A. Fredrick. Division of Community Health Promotion and Planning, Clay County Public Health Center, 1940 W. Kansas St., Liberty, MO 64068, 816.506.5088, kmcphee@marc.org

This presentation focuses on the Clay County Public Health Center Volunteer Corps. This innovative program provides an opportunity for the citizens of Clay County Missouri to participate in a new and constructive community-building initiative. Designed to utilize and enhance the local social capital by networking citizens through the health center, this program's intention is to enhance the sense of community surrounding the general public's health. The program integrates volunteers into the daily operations of the health center through placement in strategically designed positions. The public health volunteer program enhances the agency's visibility in the community, creates a greater understanding of general public health functions, increases the public's perceived value of the agency and maximizes existing resources. The volunteer program redefines Clay County Public Health Center's ability to function on a daily basis while establishing the foundation for community-based public health preparedness.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation participants will be able to

• Understand the importance of social capital in a healthy community and its relation to volunteerism in public health service.
• Define the essential elements of volunteer program implementation in a public health setting.
• Identify barriers to effective volunteer implementation.
• Understand the dualism of purpose of volunteer integration as it relates to daily operation and public health preparedness.
• Relate theoretical concepts to practice application through study of the Clay County Public Health Center's Volunteer Corps annual evaluation.

Keywords: Community Involvement, Community-Based Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered