The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #52662

Lydia Pendley, Project Director for the Challenge Grant, New Mexico Public Health Association, 24 Loma Serena, Santa Fe, NM 87506, 505-983-1495, lpendley1@juno.com

New Mexico Public Health Association's Challenge Grant centers on 1) increasing awareness and collaborative involvement of community members and NMPHA members in NMPHA’s three priority policy areas (social determinants of health, environmental justice, and universal access to health care; 2) increasing both the numbers of NMPHA and APHA members as well as the quality of involvement in both organizations, and 3) developing NMPHA’s organizational structure, with special focus on its regional representatives and membership, and action agenda to support the three priority policy areas on an ongoing, year-round basis.

NMPHA will reach out through its regional structure to community or regional organizations/coalitions that are planning their own events focusing on social determinants of health, environmental justice, or universal access to health care issues and strategies. NMPHA will offer planning and financial assistance for these events and use the events as an opportunity to model the mission of NMPHA and recruit members for NMPHA and APHA. Ongoing relationships with these community organizations and coalitions will be encouraged, including collaborative action that supports the needs and concerns identified at these events. If the events that are sponsored at the local/regional level are in areas with community colleges or universities, student participation will be sought and encouraged. Student involvement in NMPHA will also be supported through stipends for MPH students to prepare summaries of policy priority sessions at the NMPHA Annual Conference to be then included in a conference proceedings document. The document will be used with members, legislators and others to support advocacy around the policy priorities.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the purpose and outcomes to date of the New Mexico Public Health Association's Challenge Grant.
• To understand ways in which affiliates can increase partnerships with community and other organizations to promote the affiliate's policy agenda.
• To understand ways in which to promote student and community interest in public health and membership in affiliates.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.