187645 Microfinancing for health promotion: A national evaluation project

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 5:15 PM

Ann Saxour Loeffler, MSPH , Health Services Division, John Snow, Inc. (JSI), Denver, CO
Reesa Webb, MS , Health Services Division, John Snow, Inc. (JSI), Denver, CO
Megan Hiltner, MPH , Health Services Division, John Snow, Inc. (JSI), Denver, CO
     
In the fall of 2006 the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion partnered with the Regional Health Administrators to implement a microfinancing program targeting local efforts to improve the health of communities at the local level. The Take Action: Healthy People, Places, and Practices in Communities project offered multiple microfunding initiatives for prevention, health promotion, physical activity and healthy diet activities nationwide. This model was decentralized and empowered communities and CBOs to be responsible for community health improvement.

This presentation will provide useful information addressing three components: (1) an overview of the process for the mini-grants project; (2) overall data regarding the number of proposals submitted and funded, the types of projects proposed and funded, and overall observations regarding community needs; and (3) highlights of successful projects currently underway in communities.

This session will focus on microfinancing, a creative mechanism to increase participation of community-based organizations (CBOs) in efforts to promote health in a community.

Learning Objectives:
1. List at least three desired outcomes of microfinancing. 2. Describe the Evaluating Healthy People, Places, and Practices in Communities project. 3. List the four topic areas addressed by the microfinancing project. 4. Discuss the process used to select awardees.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Healthy People 2000/2010

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Reesa Webb has 30 years of health care experience both as an administrator and as a consultant. Ms. Webb has her Masters in Biometry and has completed the University of Colorado’s Graduate Program in Health Care Financial Management. Ms. Webb began her career working in the federal and state health planning programs. Throughout her career she has continued her commitment to public health and has worked extensively with many DHHS agencies and offices, including the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Office of Population Affairs (OPA), the Office of Performance Review (OPR) the Division of Shortage Designation (DSD), the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) and the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP). Ms. Webb’s particular expertise is in the following areas: community needs assessments, strategic planning, facilitation, community development and technical assistance, primary care service development, integrated health care delivery systems, market research, grantsmanship and new business development. Ms. Webb also has an extensive background working with health care organizations in rural areas. During her career, Ms. Webb has worked with federal, state and local health agencies, community health centers, hospitals, physicians’ practices, family planning clinics, long term care facilities and community based coalitions in both rural and urban areas to improve their ability to deliver high quality, accessible, cost effective health care. Ms. Webb has assisted these agencies and organizations in successfully meeting the health care needs and challenges of their communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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: Assessing, Planning and Financing Public Health Services
See more of: Community Health Planning and Policy Development