Laverne M. Carter, PhD, MPH, MA¹, William Johnson, Board Vice Chair², Melicia Whitt, PhD³, and Margaret Grayson, Board Chair². (1) Managing Principal, The Carter Consultancy, Inc., 6007 Old Stratford Court, Alexandria, VA 22315, 703-313-4934, Lmocar@aol.com, (2) The Southeast Missouri Community Partners for Progress, 319 W. North Street, Sikeston, MO 63801, (3) Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest, NC 27157

The State of Missouri maintains one the best health statistics systems in the country, which yields reports by county. However, due to the statistically low numbers of minorities in the rural counties, many of the health issues of the Black rural communities do not surface as part of the larger health picture of the state. Reports from residents of these communities have indicated that there are major disease prevention and management challenges, as well as health services access problems in these communities. These issues could only be uncovered through direct small area surveys and qualitative assessments. Given the gaps and potential inaccuracies in minority health data, the National Center for Health Statistics has initiated several demonstration projects, which confront some of these same issues that were found in the Bootheel. This session will explore the structure and outcomes of a major community health assessment of 31 rural Black communities in southeast Missouri. The study, which was community-guided, provided important data and information for future program planning and answered several key questions:

What is the demographic composition of Black households in 31 targeted communities of the Bootheel? What is the health status of Black households in 31 targeted communities of the Bootheel? What are the behavioral risk factors of Black households in 31 targeted communities of the Bootheel? What is the insurance status of Black households in 31 targeted communities of the Bootheel? What is the health care access status of Black households in 31 targeted communities of the Bootheel?

Learning Objectives:

• Session participants will be able to list at least two sources of funding for community health assessments.
• Session participants will be able to describe at least three approaches used to gain community support for the assessment.
• Session participants will be able to describe at least three aims of the community health assessment.
• Session participants will be able to describe at least two data collection methods employed in assessing the health needs of residents in rural Black communities of southeast Missouri.
• Session participants will be able to list at least two inhibitors and two facilitators of the community health assessment.
• Session participants will be able to list at least three outcomes of the community health assessment.

Keywords: Community Capacity, Planning

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: The Southeast Missouri Community Partners for Progress, Inc.- Consultant; The Carter Consultancy, Inc. - Employment