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

Abstract #63143

Yin Yan Leung, MPH¹, Patricia Erwin, MPH¹, and Linette Escobar, MA². (1) Newcomers Health Program, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1490 Mason Street #107, San Francisco, CA 94133-4222, (2) SUNSET Russian Tobacco Education Project, Bay Area Community Resources, Ocean Park Health Center, 1351 24th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122, (415) 682-1963, lesunset@hotmail.com

As a city of refuge, San Francisco, California is made up of a large and diverse community of immigrants, with over 1/3 being foreign born and close to 46% speaking a language other than English at home. Each immigrant community brings its unique socio-cultural issues, health beliefs and practices, and immigration experiences. Public health departments need to work with these immigrant groups in culturally competent ways with an understanding of these issues to have a beneficial impact on community health and well-being. The Newcomers Health Program is successfully implementing community-based public health programs with Russian-speaking and Bosnian immigrants that use culturally appropriate methods and community involvement from assessments through implementation and evaluation of programs. Key factors to success include: designing activities with an understanding of socio-cultural issues, health beliefs and immigrant experiences, incorporating community health workers as program planners and cultural liaisons; involving community members as active participants; and utilizing leadership development and community capacity building approaches. This presentation will discuss the critical role that assessments play in gaining the trust of the community, techniques for effectively working with the skills and backgrounds of community health workers, methods for successfully involving community members in program planning, implementation and evaluation, strategies for overcoming barriers to community participation, approaches for building community leadership among immigrant communities, and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• list three ways to involve immigrant community members in community-based health programs
• name two reasons it is critical to work with community health workers in program planning, implementation and evaluation
• describe two methods to overcome barriers to community participation in program activities
• describe the importance of community involvement for program success and sustainability

Keywords: Community Involvement, Cultural Competency

Related Web page: www.dph.sf.ca.us/CHPP/newcomers/newcmrs.htm

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.