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

Abstract #71760

Carl Osaki, RS, MSPH, Washington State Board of Health, 3520 NE 189th Pl, Seattle, WA 98155, (206) 365 1633, csosaki@aol.com

PACE EH was based on the philosophy that community interests should be incorporated into the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental health services and policies. PACE EH is particularly useful in guiding local and state health agencies to address community environmental justice issues and concerns. Information about this topic will be presented by a member of the Washington State Board of Health, who was also on the work group that authored the PACE EH guidebook. The speaker will describe opportunities presented by the PACE EH process in addressing environmental justice issues in discussions in Washington State. The Washington State Board of Health identified environmental justice as a priority project for 1999-2001. The work culminated in October 2001 when the Board adopted a report with a set of recommendations, including environmental justice guidelines for state and local agencies. Applying his experiences as a Board of Health member, the presenter will describe how these agencies, in collaboration with environmental justice or community groups can use PACE EH as a methodology for assessing issues and developing policies around community environmental concerns.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation the attendee will be able to:
• (1)Describe the connection between the utilization of a community-based environmental health assessment process and addressing environmental justice concerns; (2)Underscore ways of generating support from local public health agencies or local boards of health to facilitate community-based environmental health assessments in addressing environmental justice issues; and
• (3)List key benefits from addressing environmental justice concerns through community-based environmental health assessments.

Keywords: Emerging Health Issues, Community Collaboration

Related Web page: www.naccho.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NACCHO
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.