The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48582

Tricia Tillman, MPH and Lillian Shirley, RN, MPH, MPA. Multnomah County Health Department, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue; 14th Floor, Portland, OR 97211, 503.988.3674, tricia.e.tillman@co.multnomah.or.us

In completing its strategic plan for 2001 - 2003, Multnomah County Health Department, in Portland, Oregon identified "eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities" as a priority area of focus. The Department recognizes that accomplishing this goal will require not only working in partnership with a broad array of community partners, but also demands that the Health Department identify approaches that address the social determinants of health as root causes of racial and ethnic health disparities. Several Community Health Promotion Strategies have been identified as valuable approaches to both engage communities, improve services, and address root causes of disparity. These strategies focus on mobilizing community assets and building on health promoting cultural norms and values, as well as on developing partnerships with community members and organizations to develop and strengthen interventions to alleviate the disproportionate burden of poor health shouldered by communities of color and other disadvantaged communities.

This presentation will highlight several models currently being used by Multnomah County Health Department, including RARE, Perinatal Periods of Risk, and PACE-EH, that blend epidemiology and professionally delivered public health services with community based public health promotion strategies to address health disparities. The presentation will discuss the philosophical and organizational challenges of moving from the professional/individual model to a partnership/community model. It will also highlight the opportunities and successes enjoyed by improving the balance between the two operational practices.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to
• Discuss the challenges of moving from a clinical service delivery model to one that includes community health promotion.
• Discuss components of community health promotion and their contribution to reducing the root causes of racial health disparities.
• Compare models of community health promotion and their relevance to specific health issues.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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