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

Abstract #71470

Edith C. Kieffer, PhD¹, Giancarlo Guzman², Richard Trice², Michael Spencer, MSW, PhD³, Gloria Palmisano, BS, MA⁴, and Jessica Waechter, MPH, MSW¹. (1) Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Room 5126, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, (2) REACH Detroit Partnership, 3815 W. Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48216, 313-843-3446, gjguzman1@hotmail.com, (3) University of Michigan School of Social Work, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2210, (4) Community Health & Social Services Center, Inc., 5635 W. Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48209

Numerous barriers to adopting healthy eating and physical activity recommendations exist in low-resource urban environments. The REACH Detroit Partnership is a multi-level community-based intervention affiliated with the Detroit Community-Academic Research Center that addresses ethnic disparities in diabetes and its risk factors in the African American and Latino communities of eastside and southwest Detroit. REACH community and social support interventions are designed to reduce barriers by working with community residents and organizations to develop needed resources and encourage their use. Based on recommendations from family focus groups that were conducted in each community, a variety of one-time and ongoing activities related to nutrition and physical activity have been developed in the two target areas. Southwest Detroit now has weekly Latin dance and salsa aerobics classes provided free to the community at neighborhood centers, and two community gardens have been created. In the eastside community, hustle and dance aerobics classes have been implemented at neighborhood recreation centers and churches. Healthy Soul Food demonstrations have been conducted, and the first Healthy Latino Cooking presentation for the residents of Detroit has been piloted, with more sessions planned. Demand for more healthy cooking demonstrations and physical activities have been requested by the community. This presentation will summarize the results of case studies that documented the process and outcomes of planning, developing and implementing these neighborhood-based exercise and healthy eating activities in eastside and southwest Detroit.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, participants will:
• 1. Describe key findings from case studies of the development and implementation of community healthy eating and exercise activities to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• 2. Describe the benefits of community-based participatory planning and evaluation approach.

Keywords: Community Assets, Diabetes

Related Web page: www.reachdetroit.org

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.