221222 Don't Let Stroke Get You…We've GOTCHA (Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors)

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 2:42 PM - 2:54 PM

Susan Mayfield-Johnson, PhD, MPH, CHES , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Maxine Ball, BSW, LSW, CHA , Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors, University of Southern Mississippi, Belzoni, MS
Lorene Delaney, CHA , Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors, University of Southern Mississippi, Belzoni, MS
Nicole Rodgers, CHA , Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors, University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland, MS
Rebekah Young, MPH, CHES , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Pearlean Day, MEd , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Cardiovascular disease ranks as the leading cause of death in Mississippi with disproportionate rates affecting African Americans in the Mississippi Delta. To address these issues and in response to requests for proposals in 2007, members of the Center for Sustainable Health Outreach (CSHO) conducted several discussion groups across the Mississippi Delta with both community members and health and social services representatives. As a result, a CBPR project based on the Community Health Advisor model (CHA) with a focus on stroke prevention and early detection methods has been developed. Utilization of CHAs as connectors between health care consumers and providers has become increasingly attractive as a means of promoting health among groups that have traditionally lacked access to health care. Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors (GOTCHA) has incorporated a rigorous training design focused on equipping CHAs with comprehensive core outreach skills as well as culturally appropriate health education, in specific chronic disease training modules. An overview of the GOTCHA project, as well as specifics of the training design will be presented by CHA participants, who will be attending APHA for the first time. Further, findings presented in this session will describe how the training impacted CHAs' personal health behaviors, CHAs' stroke prevention knowledge and skills to be used in their community, as well as other factors, such as CHAs' sense of empowerment.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the presentation, participants will: 1. Describe how the training design of comprehensive core skill development and chronic disease modules impacted CHAs’ personal health behaviors in the Mississippi Delta. 2. Recognize the unique roles Community Health Advisors can play in stroke prevention.

Keywords: Community Health Advisor, Rural Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI on this project and have been involved with the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the program.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Delta Health Alliance Community Education Employment (includes retainer)

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.