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

Abstract #72913

Phyllis Kaye, MPA, Consultant, 1522 K Street NW, Suite 1130, Washington, DC 20005, Marcia Bayne-Smith, DSW, Urban Studies Department, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, New York, NY 11367, Patrick Chaulk, MD, MPH, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 701 St Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, and Tammi Fleming, Kingsley House, Health Care for All - New Orleans, 1600 Constance Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-523-6221, TFleming@kingsleyhouse.org.

In this session, Community Health Workers (CHWs) from two different communities along with consultants from The Annie E. Casey Foundation will co-present on a Neighborhood Health Messenger Model (NHM). The CHWs were instrumental in developing and implementing the NHM model in their communities and have been involved in helping other communities replicate the model. The goals of the NHM model are to improve health status through (a) resident leadership, development, empowerment, organization and mobilization, (b) health insurance enrollment and help in navigating the health services system and finding medical homes; and (c) health education and use of prevention services.

The model consists of three critical phases: community mapping, door-to-door outreach and health education as well as social support/prevention services. The presenters will discuss each of these phases in detail inviting participation and questions from session participants. While the project consultants will provide background information and summarize lessons learned, it is the CHWs who will share the methods involved in resident engagement, the community mapping process, the activities used to enhance outreach and education and connect residents to medical homes. In addition, and of critical importance, the CHWs will focus on the kinds of supports they provide to fellow residents, and how this work has opened up new opportunities and impacted their careers.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to: (
• Identify the three phases and critical elements of the NHM models; (2)List the key activities and participants involved in each phase; (3)Identify those elements of the model that are needed and applicable to their communities; and (4)Develop a plan for either adapting and implementing a neighborhood health messenger initiative in their community or incorporating elements of the NHM model into their existing work.

Keywords: Community Health Advisor, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Some of the work described in the presentation was funded in part by The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.