158586 Center for Health Equality: A collaborative approach to reducing health disparities

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 12:30 PM

Martha Monroy, MA , Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Charlene Clements, MPH Candidate , University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Veronica Marcantonio, MPH Candidate , Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
     
In 2003 the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health was awarded a Center of Excellence in Partnership for Community Outreach, Research on Health Disparities and Training Grant (Project EXPORT). The goal of Project EXPORT and the Center for Health Equality is to reduce health disparities among Hispanics and Native Americans in the areas of substance abuse and diabetes. This is a unique collaboration between various departments at the University of Arizona, public health graduate students, two diverse Arizona communities as well as agencies and organizations not traditionally associated with health coalitions such as libraries, grocery stores, neighborhood associations and city planning departments. Project EXPORT provides technical assistance to communities and develops research, intervention and prevention projects, which are community-specific and community driven. As a result, community walks against diabetes and substance abuse, youth programs and family focused activities, physical activity and health education classes, community gardens, community coalition building and policy changes have been developed.

Learning Objectives:
1.Recognize factors for community mobilization, community voice, community ownership and community change (building trust, communicating concerns, university as a tool, resource identification, networking, visibility and advocacy). 2.Identify how to develop a model for partnerships: The community in the driver's seat-- Reversal of traditional roles in community university partnerships; community members as leaders and catalysts and the university taking on the role of a resource and tool. 3.Identify how to build upon and utilize community wisdom 4.Identify a model that creates multilevel social change.

Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Health Disparities

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.

See more of: Success Stories: Community-Based Public Health Efforts to Inform Politics, Policy, and Public Health (e.g., Social and Environmental Justice)
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