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

Abstract #68712

Stephanie Farquhar, PhD, School of Community Health, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, 503-725-5167, farquhar@pdx.edu and Kevin Odell, BA, BFA, Multnomah County Health Department, 727 NE 24th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232.

Portland, Oregon is challenged by several environmental health concerns. For example, asthma aggravated by contaminated air affects 14% of the population of North and Northeast Portland, twice the national average. Additionally, volatile organic compounds contaminate several public ground water wells in Northeast Portland, the most racially diverse section of Portland. More than 35 community-based organizations and agencies have joined forces with residents and the Multnomah County Health Department to dedicate their energy to a participatory process designed to empower individuals and effect changes in environmental health policy and programs. The health department hired two community organizers to engage diverse community members in the process through person-to-person encounters and presentations to organizations. After 8 months of assembling residents and organizations and nurturing the initial formation of the coalition, the partnership took on a life of its own. This prolific and dynamic coalition is guided by the philosophy and methodology outlined in Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE-EH), developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This presentation will discuss the specific community organizing tools and techniques used to move from coalition-building into action around such environmental issues as urban sprawl, lead, transportation, industry, and asthma.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• 1.Describe the specific tools and techniques used to bring community organizations together to create a shared vision and effect policy and programmatic change.
• 2.Identify the potential contributions of direct action community organizing strategies to public health programs.
• 3.List five indicators of an environmentally healthy community.

Keywords: Coalition, Environmental Justice

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.