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

Abstract #65905

Carolyn A Berry, PhD¹, Aileen Reid, MPA², Tricia Schmitt, MPA², Daniel Kass, MSPH³, and Lorna Davis, MS⁴. (1) Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, 726 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York City, NY 10003, 212-998-7465, cb79@nyu.edu, (2) Center for Health and Public Service Research, New York University, 726 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003, (3) Community HealthWorks, Childhood Asthma Initiative, Research and Evaluation, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 40 Worth Street, CHW Room 1607, New York, NY 10013, (4) NYC Childhood Asthma Initiative, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 40 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013

Background. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) contracted with five agencies to establish partnerships in their communities as part of its NYC Childhood Asthma Initiative. The purpose of these partnerships is to confront systemic issues and build sustainable community capacity to address health promotion, prevention and disease management around childhood asthma. The communities targeted by these partnerships are largely low-income communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by childhood asthma. Methods. The three-year formative evaluation of three of the community partnerships uses qualitative methodology, including site visits, in-depth interviews, document review and participant observation of program activities to document the development, implementation, and sustainability of three of the community partnerships. Results. While all three communities were able to establish partnerships in accordance with their contracts, they represent a spectrum in terms of vigor, leadership style, innovation, ownership by members, and activity levels. The current (third) year of the evaluation focuses on the sustainability of these partnerships past NYCDOHMH funding, and factors that enhance and inhibit sustainability. Conclusions. Community-based partnerships are often proposed as an important and viable way to address public health problems. It is important to understand the potential role of health departments in fostering such partnerships and the factors that influence sustainability beyond contractual funding.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe characteristics of successful community partnerships.
• Articulate factors that influence sustainability of partnerships beyond initial funding.
• Discuss the role of the health department in promoting community partnerships.

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.