157741 Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health Beauty Salon Health Education Program: Lessons Learned from Bridging Community, Agency and Academia in Philadelphia

Monday, November 5, 2007: 11:15 AM

Ruth C. Browne, ScD , Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Brooklyn, NY
Nicole A. Vaughn, PhD , Dept. of Health Management and Policy, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
Tonya Samuel, MSPH , Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Brooklyn, NY
Nadia J. Siddiqui, MPH , Center for Health Equality, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
Ana Ramos-Hernandez, JD, MGA , Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Brooklyn, NY
Gwen Foster, MPH , Health and Fitness Czar, Mayor's Office of Health and Fitness, Philadelphia, PA
Juanita Alexander, BS , Health and Fitness Czar, Mayor's Office of Health and Fitness, Philadelphia, PA
Shirley Randelman, BS , Philadelphia Beauty Showcase Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Laura Gonzalez, MS , Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Serita Reels, MPH , Mercy Circle of Care, Philadelphia, PA
Rita Lourie, MSN, MPH, RN , Department of Nursing, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Catherine Curley, MSN, RN , Department of Nursing, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Jack Lewis, MSW, LCSW , Office of Diversity and Community Outreach, Uinversity of Pennsylvania, Phila, PA
Terri H. Lipman, PhD, CRNP, FAAN , School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Phila, PA
Courtney Baker, RN, MSN , School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Phila, PA
Ivy Kuhn, RN, MSN, CNOR , School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Phila, PA
As communities, organizations, agencies and universities begin to realize the need to include and reach vulnerable and minority populations, community based participatory research endeavors are becoming more common. While some collaborations have proven successful, others have struggled to reach their goals. The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (AAIUH), based in New York, was funded by a STEPS to a Healthier Philadelphia grant, to lead 8 community based and academic partners in expanding its beauty salon-based education programs (i.e., Black PearlsTM & Nuestra BellezaTM) for African American and Latina women in West and North Philadelphia. Such initiatives bring health messages into trusted community venues while encouraging clients to transfer their interest in personal appearance to personal health and wellness. There have been a few beauty salon health initiatives in other cities, and many of the previous programs have had off-site health education for clients or have had salon stylists conduct health education. The AAIUH's unique program encourages stylists to engage salon clients in the program and provides on-site health education conducted by community health educators. Working with two community-based agencies, three universities, one health center, and Philadelphia's mayoral appointed “Health Czar”, AAIUH effectively and successfully pilot tested an adapted salon-based health education program that incorporated existing expertise from all partners through all aspects of the program, from recruitment to data analysis. Key strategies and consensus decision making was employed to operate the collaborative. Pilot data and the lessons learned in conducting and managing a multidisciplinary partnership will be presented.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe 5 strategies for managing a multidisciplinary partnership. 2. Articulate the procedure for engaging multiple agencies in delivering a high quality program to the community. 3. List key steps needed to facilitate community, agency and academic partnerships.

Keywords: Community Participation, Health Education Strategies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.