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

Abstract #62903

Patrick S. Hughes, EdD, Executive Director, Solano Coalition for Better Health, 360 Campus Lane, Ste. 110, Suisun City, CA 94585, 707/863-4441, phughes@partnershiphp.org

The Solano Coalition for Better Health formed over 14 years ago to address the health care issues faced by Solano County’s medically underinsured and uninsured and MediCal populations. The Coalition is comprised of a wide range of community-based organizations, the private and public health care providers in the county, and faith-based and other private and nonprofit institutions. This session will describe one SCBH program, the Multicultural Health Improvement Initiative (MCHII). The MCHII aims to reduce disparities in diabetes and breast, colon, and prostate cancer outcomes for Latinos and African-Americans in two areas of this Northern California county. Research conducted by MCHII staff and external evaluators via community health assessments, discussion groups, literature reviews, and survey of health care providers reveal that these neighborhoods, while economically impoverished, are rich in community assets and articulate about the barriers to be overcome in order to reduce disparities. Using these assets, MCHII developed an approach to reducing disparities that focuses on three areas 1) the individual - increasing knowledge and promoting lifestyle change; 2) social capital - strengthening informal neighborhood-based helping systems; and 3) the health care system - changing institutional barriers. Driving this approach is a corps of health advocates, who provide information, support, and “navigation” assistance through the health care system to those diagnosed with cancer and diabetes, and Leadership Committees, comprising neighborhood leaders who provide direction to staff and advocates and serve as neighborhood representatives on MCHII’s governing bodies.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss some of the challenges that Latinos and African-Americans face in preventing cancer and diabetes
• Identify strategies that can increase community partnership’s ability to reduce health disparities
• Learn about one effective model for increasing culturally competent care

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Minority Health

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.