CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — 141st APHA Annual Meeting

Theme: Think Global, Act Local: Best Practices Around the World

Community Health Workers

Submission Deadline: Monday, February 11, 2013

Additionally, we encourage students, members of other sections, caucuses and SPIGs to submit relevant abstracts to the CHW Section and look forward to working collaboratively to strengthen APHA’s commitment to community health and CHWs. Abstracts, both domestic and international, will be considered, based on the content outlined below. Abstracts submitted for presentations in other languages are welcome (we cannot guarantee translation services, however, we will work with the presenter to set up translation whenever possible). Abstracts, however, must be submitted in English. Presentations that are interactive and participatory in nature are especially encouraged.

The CHW Section will organize a minimum of 6 – 7 oral sessions, 2 poster sessions and 1 roundtable session. Abstracts should be 250 words or less, emphasizing the relevance to CHW practice and/or policy, and should address how the information to be presented can be applied in other settings. Abstracts should also contain a brief but direct summary of what is to be presented. Specific attention will be given to goals and objectives, methodology, evaluation tools and findings, and CHW leadership throughout the process and presentation.

We are particularly interested in abstracts and session proposals that address the following:

• CHWs thinking global and acting local: Best practices for impacting health and wellness
  
• Developing best practices and policies for chw leadership development
  
• Exemplary models for the integration of CHWs into health care teams and addressing health reform
  
• Innovative programs, research, and evaluation in addressing the critical role of CHWs working with vulnerable populations, special populations, and populations outside of the health care system
  
• Novel approaches to promoting healthy communities beyond the health care system
  
• Pioneering academic/chw research collaborations and evaluation dissemination
  
• Supporting CHWs through policies and systems changes
  
• Sustaining chw programs: Successes and challenges
  

Continuing Education Credit:

 APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials. For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:  

1. An abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;
2. At least one MEASURABLE SINGLE objective (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable objectives and compound objectives are not acceptable).  Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs: Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.
3. A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement;
   Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.)
4. All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.

Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Annette Ferebee at annette.ferebee@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education. For program questions, contact the program planner listed below.