The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54123

Julie Nelson Ingoglia, MPH, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th Street, NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20036, 202/783-5550 x 244, jnelson@naccho.org

Community involvement is a key factor in changing health behaviors of a particular population. In Model Programs Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) gathered innovative state and local health department programs that seek to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health. The presentation will focus on how state and local public health agencies have worked with their communities to share information and bring about change in health behaviors. ASTHO and NACCHO surveyed state and local health departments to identify model programs, policies, and practices that address racial or ethnic health disparities and compiled these successful models into a single compendium of programs. Following publication of this compendium, ASTHO and NACCHO conducted focus groups with seven exemplary state or local programs to learn more about what makes these programs successful, sustainability, and evaluation. The presentation will highlight several of the model programs, particularly those addressing behavior and lifestyle issues. It will also summarize common topics identified by state and local health departments, and provide information about community involvement, program development and evaluation gathered during the focus groups. The presentation will identify factors contributing to successful state and local programs, such as collaboration between different organizations. Lastly, the presentation will highlight select federal, state, local and organizational resources available to public health professionals that focus on the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.

Learning Objectives:

• ¨ List several model state and local health department programs that focus on behavior and lifestyle issues among racially and ethnically diverse populations;
• ¨ Identify common themes and factors contributing to successful state and local health department programs; and
• ¨ Identify resources on programs that address racial and ethnic disparities.

Keywords: , Health Disparities

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.