Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Public -Private Partnership Model of Collaboration in Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: There has been progress in some of the health disparity areas in Florida, but the disparities are widening particularly in underserved communities. African Americans bear a disproportionately higher burden of this disease. The Committee on Reducing Health Disparities (RED) promoted a public-private partnership to reduce these disparities, particularly in areas identified through the state-wide epidemiology research study of communities by zip code. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has engaged in a collaborative public awareness and health promotion model.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and implement prevention strategies in communities and assess evidenced-based outcomes based on understanding of causes, employ strategies to reduce them and utilize findings to promote and implement collaborative public/private partnerships and targeted demonstration projects.

METHODS: Describe two collaborative models - A Jacksonville Faith-based organization and the Florida Division of the American Cancer Society, Department of Health, Office of Minority Affairs, implemented as a partnership to increase cancer awareness and promotion of cancer early detection and prevention efforts,

RESULTS: There has resulted an increased level of public awareness through education about the services available to racial and ethnic disparities among the general population and ethnically impacted minorities through coordination with various health service organizations.

CONCLUSIONS: A multiple approach was employed to reach out to communities through local and state efforts using a variety of modalities. The outcome led to the recommendation for increased support and funding for prevention and education to targeted high risk communities, focusing on corporate policies to improve health of the population in high-risk areas.