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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Patricia Zerounian, BA¹, Dona Putnam, BSN, PHN², Krista Hanni, MS, PhD¹, Cheryl M. Ellemberg, MPH, CHES³, Lori R. Martin, MS, RD⁴, and John P. Snider, MPH, MPA³. (1) Office of the Health Officer, Monterey County Health Department, 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906, 831/755-4583, zerounianp@co.monterey.ca.us, (2) Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Monterey County Health Department, 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906, (3) Community Health Division, Health Promotion Services Branch, Monterey County Health Department, 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906, (4) Prevention Services, Monterey County Health Department, 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906

Adolescent and young adult mortality is generally preventable, and has numerous community impacts. A 2005 analysis of the causes of death for youth and young adults aged 15 to 24 from 1997 to 2003 in Monterey County, California, found that 84% of all deaths for this age group (n=278) were preventable. Although the death rate decreased over time, racial disparities and high levels of risk-taking behavior in association with the leading causes of death were found.

This analysis was used to develop a process to implement changes at the individual, community, institutional, and policy levels to reduce disparities and risk-taking behaviors. Lacking funds to launch a new initiative, Monterey County Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health educators determined the best course was to encourage individual community organizations to agree upon needed outcomes, and align existing programs and activities accordingly. A focused and concerted effort of individual community organizations was needed, and thus the health department facilitated the coalition building process to take a multi-level approach.

The “Spectrum of Prevention” and “Eight Steps to Effective Coalition Building” tools were applied to mobilize the all-voluntary Teen Mortality Coalition, maintain leadership and momentum, forge commitments, conduct community mapping, revise programs to align with coalition strategies, and develop a five-year strategic plan. Using of indicator data early in the planning process was a key component to the success of coalition building and intervention development. In process in early 2006, the plan will result in countywide policies related to eliminating adolescent mortality disparities and risk-taking behavior.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn how a Monterey County coalition used the “Eight Steps to Effective Coalition Building” and the “Spectrum of Prevention” to develop multi-level community developed and driven interventions for community change. At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Explain the eight steps of coalition building and the multi-level approach to community change, and
• Replicate the coalition-building methodology in their home community.

Keywords: Community Involvement, Cultural Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation