The Health Care Revival Initiative began in 1997 as a call for collective action of the entire community in response to health data for Mattapan, MA. The purpose of the Initiative is to engage community residents, health care and human service providers, businesses, schools and the faith community in dialogue about public health issues to create a unified response and stimulate community discussion at an Annual Health Care Revival Meeting. At the 1998 Meeting, adolescent health was identified as a priority issue for Mattapan, in part because of data showing that between 1990 and 1996, Mattapan had the highest mortality rate for black males between the ages of 15 and 24. The Community Steering Committee was polled and teens from the community completed a Teen Health Needs Assessment in Mattapan Square in the summers of 1998 and 1999. The Adolescent Health Team researched national, state, and city data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as by the Boston Public Health Commission. The information gathered from these sources provided the framework for the Teen Health Plan for Mattapan, which serves as a foundation for Mattapan Community Health Center's Teen Health Program and Teen Health Clinic. The goal of the Teen Health Program is to improve the health and well-being of teens in Mattapan and surrounding communities by providing a full range of community health care services in a teen-friendly environment and providing access to all primary care, dental, specialty and social services.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the listener will be able to recognize the components of a successful, ongoing community collaboration; understand the importance of a community feedback mechanism for an adolescent health program; and recognize the importance of spirituality in a community health improvement initiative
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mattapan Community Health Center
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment