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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Julie Ann St. John, MA, MPH¹, Aurelio Martinez, LBSW¹, Michael Felix², James N. Burdine, DrPH³, and Monica L. Wendel, MA, MPH³. (1) Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, TAMHSC, 2101 South McColl Road, #135, McAllen, TX 78503, 956-668-6321, aumartinez@srph.tamhsc.edu, (2) Independent Consultant, 3027 Walbert Ave, Allentown, PA 18104, (3) Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266

The Center for Community Health Development (CCHD), School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center is currently involved in phase two of the “Integrated Health Outreach System" project ($8 million, 7 year effort) in Hidalgo County, TX. The major goals of this project are to create a proactive public health model to assist isolated colonia residents to: improve health status; improve access to appropriate services; and build community capacity. During phase one, local health workers (promotores) were trained and employed through a network of multiple agencies and worked within the colonias. Service providers comprised the partnership—lead by managers, mid-level supervisors, and project staff. The promotores were not directly involved in the partnership, and this provider partnership managed project activities occurring in the colonias. To better meet the needs of the residents and accomplish project goals, for phase two, project staff restructured the project so that a steering committee comprised of staff and project promotores will facilitate two committee health partnerships located in the project areas. Project promotores are currently trained and employed through CCHD, which standardized the promotores' roles and increased efficiency. This model utilizes promotores as facilitators of the community partnerships and actively engages community residents in designing and implementing strategies to improve health status and quality of life. A key strategy in this model is to connect the community partnerships with local health and social service providers, which not only increases access for residents, but improves utilization of local providers and establishes medical homes.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the difference between a provider-based partnership and a community-based health partnership.
• Identify 3 challenges of transitioning from one type of a partnership to another during the middle of an ongoing project.
• List 3 key strategies for developing community-based health partnerships that actively involves health and social service providers.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Community Collaboration

Related Web page: www.cchd.us/dihos.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation