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

Abstract #72495

Nancy L. VanDevanter, DrPH, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10032, 212 305 1166, nlv1@columbia.edu, Courtney A. Bennett, BS, Community and Government Relations, New York City Mission Society, 105 E. 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010, Joyce Moon Howard, DrPH, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health Division of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, Donna Shelley, MD, MPH, Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St, New York, NY 10028, Cheryl Merzel, DrPH, Center for Applied Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10032, Mary E. Northridge, PhD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief, AJPH, Columbia University-Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th St.-9th Floor, Rm 937, New York, NY 10032, and Jennifer Cantrell, Center for Applied Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10032.

Objectives: Rates of tobacco use in the community of Central Harlem, New York City are almost double the national average (41%). We will present a case study of a model for academic-community partnership that simultaneously assesses and builds capacity for tobacco control. Methods: Using a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) framework, a partnership between researchers and a representative community action board (CAB) was formed to assess community capacity for tobacco control. Multiple methods of data collection were employed: key informant interviews, focus groups, published epidemiological data, multiple process measures. Results: In partnership with the CAB, researchers identified dimensions of community capacity, developed and implemented a plan for assessment. As data was collected, it was disseminated and validated by the CAB. Utilizing this data, the partners are presently engaged in the development of a research proposal to conduct multi-level interventions for tobacco control in Central Harlem. Conclusions: CBPR provides a useful framework that engages community members and researchers in a joint process where each contribute equally, and learn from each other. This approach empowers communities, and builds local capacity to address factors influencing the health of the community.

Learning Objectives:

Learning objectives: Participants will be able to
• identify the elements of community capacity
• methodology for capacity assessment,
• describe the community based participatory research framework for the partnership, and the roles and responsibilities of each of the partners.

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.