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

Abstract #54885

Matthew A Stefanak, MPH¹, R. Scott Olds, HSD², Wen Fang Chan, MPH³, Tracy Styka, MS¹, Robert W. Indian, MS³, and Jon Jenney, MA⁴. (1) Mahoning County District Board of Health, 50 Westchester Drive, Youngstown, OH 44515, (2) Health Promotion, Kent State University, 316 White Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, 330/672-0679, rolds@kent.edu, (3) Division of Prevention and Risk Reduction, Ohio Department of Health, 246 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43216-0118, (4) Preventive Medicine, NEOUCOM, 42049 St Rt 44 PO Box 95, Rootstown, OH 44272

Collection of local BRFSS data to support community health assessment is foundational to public health practice. The time and expertise required to sustain a BRFSS demand more resources than most metropolitan county health departments possess. A collaborative approach to BRFSS is recommended in order to conduct a scientifically rigorous study and to capitalize on the varied expertise from the collaborative participants. The Mahoning County, Ohio, District Board of Health, the Ohio Department of Health and Kent State University entered into such a collaborative to conduct a BRFSS in 2001. The Board of Health initiated the BRFSS with Kent State University to supplement the State Health Department’s BRFSS sample of Mahoning County with questions about food handling practices, disability, worksite health promotion, environmental health issues, home safety, animal control, ETS exposure and firearm safety. Kent State University was contracted by the Mahoning County District Board of Health to conduct a computer assisted telephone interview of a random sample of adult county, non-institutionalized residents. All parties worked together to appropriately weight and analyze these data and combine them with the State BRFSS data to create a comprehensive profile of county residents’ health behaviors. These data are used to measure progress toward Healthy People objectives. This collaborative partnership was a successful venture among local, state and university public health professionals. Benefits included sharing of the work load, tapping expertise from varied sources, and serving as a model for other Ohio communities. This presentation will describe the steps followed to establish such a collaborative.

Learning Objectives:

• list the steps necessary to establish a collaborative partnership among local, state and university public health professionals to complete a community health assessment; and
• describe the nature and benefits of such a collaborative partnership.

Keywords: Assessments, Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mahoning County Health Department Ohio Department of Health Kent State University
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.

Handout (.ppt format, 52.5 kb)