The Human Genome Project will provide important new opportunities for improved disease management, disease prevention and public health genetics, but will also create the need for rapid and effective public and professional education related to new genetic technologies. The Community Genetics and Ethics Project (CGEP) is an NHGRI-ELSI-funded educational project designed to educate and raise awareness about ‘the new genetics’ across Vermont. The statewide project has partnered with community organizations and existing state networks to facilitate access to the broadest possible audience including professional, lay, and special-interest groups. CGEP is organized in a “concentric circles” model, with initial contact occurring in intensive 2 to 4 day retreats. Retreat participants are then asked to facilitate interaction with broader audiences via local, community-based discussion groups and public “town meeting” style forums. To date, CGEP has coordinated 20 multiday retreats, book discussion groups, and town meeting style evening forums around the state. All events target the specific audience using a mixture of lecture, panel, and small group discussion formats. A survey instrument is used to assess the project’s impact. Target audiences have a high level of interest but varying levels of concern related to ELSI issues, and misconceptions are abundant in the rural population we serve. Access into some groups is a major challenge, but barriers to raising awareness and educating these groups can be overcome by sustained and carefully-targeted interventions. See www.cgep.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner will: 1.Understand the need for, and barriers to, community education about the Human Genome Project and new genetic technologies. 2.Recognize the relevance of the Community Genetics and Ethics Project in Vermont to educational objectives in Public Health Genetics in their own environment. 3.Identify strategies used by the Community Genetics and Ethics Project to educate the public that may be extended to other environments.
Keywords: Genetics, Community Education
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.