Brian K. Gibbs, PhD, MPA¹, Cynthia M. Harris, PhD, DABT², and Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD¹. (1) Division of Public Health Practice, Program to Eliminate Health Disparities, Harvard University, School of Public Health, 1552 Tremont Street, Boston, MS 02120, (617) 495-5849, bkgibbs@hsph.harvard.edu, (2) Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science Research Center, Tallahassee, FL 32307

Social transformation models: Eliminating health disparities through research, training, community outreach, coalition building and social transformation Contributors to racial disparities in the prevalence, severity, and outcomes of disease (i.e. cardiovascular disease) may include genetic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. To address health disparities, an examination of the disenfranchisement of minority and poor populations is essential. Although some progress has been made, attempts at closing the gaps in quality of care have been lacking.

During this presentation, participants will be introduced to an NIH-NCMHD EXPORT project, Center for Healthy Options and Innovative Community Empowerment (CHOICE), a collaborative research and dissemination partnership between a historically black university and an Ivy League school of public health. CHOICE has a special relationship with two communities, Gadsden County, Florida (a rural community of indigent people, many African American farm laborers), and the urban neighborhood of Roxbury, Boston’s poorest predominately African American neighborhood. The workshop will explore research and community intervention strategies addressing lead, hypertension, stress, and racism through experience-based social transformation and public health practice models.

By the end of this session participants will be able to: (1) identify major social transformation models and their contributions towards the production of illness and promotion of health among poor and minority populations; and (2) describe two models that have strong implications for sustainable community-centered interventions involving the elimination of health disparities.

Racial disparities have a complex etiology. Eliminating health disparities requires changing multiple and interrelated behaviors that contribute to adverse health outcomes in minority populations. Large-scale efforts resulting in changes in social norms, attitudes and behaviors are necessary.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session participants will be able to

(
• identify major social transformation models and their contributions towards the production of illness and promotion of health among poor and minority populations; and (
• describe two models that have strong implications for sustainable community-centered interventions involving the elimination of health disparities.

Keywords: Participatory Action Research, Social Activism

Related Web page: www.hsph.harvard.edu/php/PTEHD/ptehd.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Harvard School of Public Health, Florida A & M University, National Institutes of Health, Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities