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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lesa Gerhard, BS, Shawna Whitney, MPH, Deborah Craig, BA, Roma Guy, MSW, and Buffy Bunting, MPH. Health Education Department, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway, HSS 319, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-338-6954, lesa@sfsu.edu

In January 2006, MPH students and faculty from San Francisco State University (SFSU) traveled to Louisiana to conduct a community needs assessment targeting low-income, uninsured, displaced women, survivors of Hurricane Katrina, throughout the greater New Orleans area. The assessment was done in collaboration with local and national grassroots organizations, People's Hurricane Fund and INCITE! For 6 days students and faculty conducted key informant interviews with state and local health agencies and social service representatives, church groups, university students, members of the business community, and residents from New Orleans and surrounding parishes. Results of the assessment confirmed the overwhelming need to reestablish access to primary healthcare services for hurricane survivors. Other social service needs identified included housing, employment, emotional support, education, and community and personal safety. INCITE! is using this data to inform local policy makers in order to establish a clinic for women and their families in the Central City community of New Orleans. Today the efforts of the women's clinic continues as the: NEW ORLEANS WOMEN'S HEALTH & JUSTICE INITIATIVE.”

Learning Objectives:

• How to conduct a community needs assessment through supervised practice of primary health care needs for low income, uninsured, displaced women and their families in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
• How to establish and maintain practice opportunities for public health students with local, state, and national organizations working to rebuild the public health infrastructure in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered