226412 Communities in action: A catalogue of health equity profiles

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sana Chehimi, MPH , Prevention Institute, Oakland, CA
Andrew Riesenberg, MS , Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Linda M. Shak, MSW , Prevention Institute, Oakland, CA
Shivani Mohan, MDES , Prevention Institute, Oakland, CA
Leslie Mikkelsen, MPH, RD , Prevention Institute, Oakland, CA
Promoting just and equitable health outcomes begins by shaping and sustaining environments that prevent illness and injury in the first place. This presentation will focus on the value of disseminating case studies and local examples of successful initiatives that seek to create equitable social, physical, and economic environments in their own communities to inspire similar work in other locales. In 2009 and 2010, Prevention Institute developed the Health Equity Profiles Catalog, which is a repository of exemplary strategies for promoting health among socially and economically disadvantaged populations. Taken together, these stories empower grassroots advocates, community health practitioners, and public health advocates to understand and apply common elements of success when promoting equitable health behaviors for preventing violence, reducing injury, and supporting healthy food and activity environments. Development of the catalog was a strategic process that largely relied on semi-structured interviews with community leaders. Through this formative evaluation method, we were able to identify (1) sustainable policy and environmental change initiatives; (2) the role and importance of collaboration and community engagement, and (3) related impact on health or health behaviors. Specific case studies and local examples that promote health equity in low income and underserved neighborhoods; isolated rural areas; and American Indian reservations will be provided in the presentation.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of weaving a health equity focus into their local public health initiatives. Demonstrate the usefulness of the health equity profiles as models and inspiration when planning, implementing, and evaluating their own community health initiatives.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As program manager at Prevention Institute, I am qualified to present because I manage programs related to healthy eating and active living. I manage training work for Communities Creating Healthy Environments, community-based organizations and tribal groups in developing local policies that build food and recreation equity and address social injustice.
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.

Back to: 3161.0: CBPR Approaches to Engaging Communities to Change Health Outcomes