211354 B Free CEED Legacy Pilot Projects: Promoting best practices and capacity-building for hepatitis B programs in Asian American communities across the United States

Monday, November 9, 2009

Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH , Institute of Community Health & Research, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Laureen Hom, MPH , Research & Evaluation, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY
Jinny Jihyun Park , Public Health and Research Center, Korean Community Services, New York, NY
Eunjoo Chung , Public Health and Research Center, Korean Community Services, New York, NY
Kay Chun, MD , Public Health and Research Center, Korean Community Services, New York, NY
Shao-Chee Sim, PhD , Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY
Kevin C. Lo, MPH , Medical Administration, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY
Jolene Chou, MPH , Research and Evaluation, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY
Su Wang, MD, MPH , Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY
Henry Pollack, MD , Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Nadia Islam, PhD , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Douglas Nam Le , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, New York, NY
Perry Pong, MD , Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY
Mariano Rey, MD , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Background: Hepatitis B (HBV), a major health disparity among Asian Pacific Islanders (API), affects an estimated 10-15% compared to < 1% of the U.S. population. Limited funds are devoted to HBV research. While NIH spends $3 billion on HIV, less than $50 million is devoted to HBV, a virus 50 times more infectious than HIV. Due to these discrepancies, limited resources exist to address this issue at the community level or coordinated national efforts.

Methods: B Free CEED is a national expert resource center funded by the CDC to eliminate API HBV disparities. B Free CEED provides pilot funding and technical assistance to groups across the U.S. to build capacity and initiate evidence-based HBV activities. 3-5 Legacy Pilot Projects a year are selected by an expert review committee made up of researchers, community members, and advocates. Applications are scored on criteria including: underserved API subgroups; feasibility; sustainability; community participation; cultural sensitivity; and innovation.

Results: As of Year 2, 9 projects across the U.S. have been funded. Legacy grantees represent community-based organizations, health departments, and community health centers at various stages of developing HBV services and programs. These groups serve Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Pacific Islanders. A description of their projects and how they coalesce into a national movement will be shared.

Discussion: The Legacy Pilot Projects are an innovative mechanism to help disseminate best practices developed by B Free CEED, build organizational capacity to address HBV disparities, and to facilitate their participation in national efforts to eliminate API HBV disparities.

Learning Objectives:
(1) Describe the impact of HBV in API communities in the U.S. (2) Understand the need for evidence-based and coordinated efforts to address API HBV disparities. (3) Articulate the goal of the B Free CEED Legacy Pilots as a means to build local community capacity to address HBV and to connect grantees to a larger national movement for the elimination of API HBV disparities.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Reseacher on the topic area
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: Asian & Pacific Islander Disparities in Infectious/Communicable Disease
See more of: Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health