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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Stephen B. Thomas, PhD, Angela F. Ford, PhD, Sekai Turner, PhD, Mario Browne, MPH, Karen Reddick, MS, and Victoria Garner, BA. Center for Minority Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, 127A Parran Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, 412-624-5665, sbthomas@cmh.pitt.edu

Trusting partnerships are central to eliminating racial and ethnic disparities. In 1994, the Center for Minority Health was established at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, to build an infrastructure that engages communities and university faculty, staff and students to address minority health issues. Through its vision, mission, guiding principles and beliefs, the CMH applies such theoretical and conceptual models as Social-Ecological Approaches, Diffusion of Innovation, Natural Helpers, Lay Health Advocates, Family Health Histories, Healthy Disparity Working Groups, Social Networks, Prevention Marketing, and Social Cognitive Learning to engage African American communities from a perspective of strength and with the intention of building both community and university capacity. Acknowledging that an individual's health exists within the context of their lives and circles of influence, the CMH uses evidence-based interventions to engage individuals, families, and social networks where they work, live, worship and play. Studies have shown that community-based partnerships are an effective approach in addressing health issues for communities of color. We believe a key indicator of our success is having created an infrastructure that sustains community engagement and presence and serves as a resource that facilitates the translation research findings into widespread practice at the community level. This presentation will describe a multi-year community-based campaign with an organizational structure for engaging minority communities as partners in health promotion and disease prevention. We will also discuss multiple programs that include community, academic, and philanthropic participation at various levels, including planning, development, and a community research advisory board.

Learning Objectives:

• • Participants will be able to discuss community engagement strategies designed to overcome barriers of trust and encourage involvement in long-term evidenced-based public health programs and interventions.
• • Participants will learn about health promotion and disease prevention programs that build upon and utilize natural helpers, existing community resources, and social networks to overcome many barriers to trust.
• • Participants will learn about challenges encountered in the process of building trust and engaging communities.

Keywords: African American, Community-Based Health Promotion

Related Web page: www.cmh.pitt.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered