Background: Recognizing the importance of economic revitalization to the elimination of health disparities, the DHHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) funded the Public Health Foundation (PHF) to assess the capacity of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) to undertake health improvement planning efforts. The 136 federally designated EZ/ECs represent some of the nation's most economically disadvantaged and ethnically diverse urban and rural areas. The capacity assessment built upon lessons learned from a recent EZ/EC Health Benchmarking Demonstration Project, which identified that EZ/EC readiness and capacity to address health varied among the three demonstration sites and was important to the success of health improvement planning efforts. Study objectives: A written survey was administered to all EZ/EC directors. The primary objectives of the study were to: (1) identify and assess characteristics associated with EZ/EC capacity to conduct a health improvement planning process, particularly addressing health disparities; (2) characterize EZ/EC experiences with health-related activities besides EZ/EC-initiated health improvement planning; and (3) identify areas relevant to health improvement planning in which EZ/ECs desire assistance. Results: The research team will present the September 2000 EZ/EC capacity study's important findings, including needs and opportunities to help build the capacity of EZ/ECs to address health and disparities within the scope of their economic and community development efforts.
Learning Objectives: By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Identify at least five characteristics associated with EZ/EC capacity to conduct a health improvement planning process, particularly addressing health disparities. 2. Characterize EZ/EC experiences with health-related activities. 3. Identify opportunities for public health professionals to partner with EZ/ECs to eliminate health disparities and to help build the health improvement capacity of EZ/ECs
Keywords: Community Health Planning, Public Health Infrastructure
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.