Identifying areas of Effectiveness in Minority Community Empowerment: An Assessment of The Mississippi Communities in Action (CIA) Workshop Series

Introduction and Purpose

State and Local Jurisdictions often have challenges identifying or measuring program effectiveness in public health, to reduce health disparities. Research indicates that measurable outcomes or measures of outcomes can be identified as part of an impact continuum. We demonstrate some measures of empowerment and capacity building towards reducing health disparities in community level public health interventions.

Methods

Thirty five minority community and faith-based organizations and individuals with interest in community health advocacy were trained in 2006/2007 at a capacity building workshop series designed to improve/increase community level health services, education, promotion and disease prevention activities. Participants were interviewed post intervention in December 2008, on perceptions of the workshops and changes since the workshops. Participants' responses were subjected to thematic analyses based on the program goals and objectives. Responses distribution and density were used to measure interest and change activities since the workshops.

Results

Most workshop participants were represented by their executives. Before the workshops, most organizations were focused on health services (mentoring, volunteering, counseling services, and health education using various media and approaches). Significant numbers focused activities on health promotion and protection activities (health fairs, screening and walks). Most organizations lacked interest or capacity for organizational capacity building (organizational operations, finance, accounting, tax status, budgeting, and funding). After the workshops, there was significant shift in interest into organizational capacity building and funding.