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[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Collaboration on migrant health issues among diverse communities: Lessons learned from the Partnership for Citrus Worker Health in Immokalee, Florida

Paul F. Monaghan1, Carol A. Bryant, PhD2, Tirso Moreno3, Robert J. McDermott, PhD2, Melinda S Forthofer, PhD2, and Kelli R. McCormack Brown, PhD, CHES4. (1) Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-494-1765, paulmonaghan@alltel.net, (2) College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs, Blvd., MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, (3) Farmworker Association of Florida, 112 W. Main Street, Immokalee, FL 34142, (4) Department of Community & Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 056, Tampa, FL 33612

The Partnership for Citrus Worker Health (PCWH) brings together immigrant community members, university researchers, farm worker activists, public health personnel, agricultural industry representatives and persons from non-profit organizations in an effort to improve farm worker health and safety in southwest Florida. In the early stages of researching and developing a community based prevention marketing (CBPM) program, the partnership has had unprecedented success in getting these groups with competing interests to sit at the same table and develop common goals and a strategic plan. Since 2002, the PCWH has directed formative research in the community for an intervention that will reduce eye injuries among citrus harvesters. One aspect for 2004 is a camp health aide program that will be implemented and evaluated by academic partners at Florida A&M University and the University of Illinois, Chicago. A successful camp health aide program, modified for local conditions, increases the capacity and sustainability of the PCWH. The diverse membership of the PCWH and their initial research findings on workplace safety highlights issues that would be of interest to other community based partnerships. This paper will document the perspectives, goals and impediments to success of the different groups cooperating in the PCWH. The community perspective is influenced by the power relationships and different agendas of the citrus industry and its employees, county health care providers, academic researchers and local activists. A unique perspective comes from those Mexican immigrants who have overcome problems of language, discrimination and exploitation in order to become researchers, health educators and community leaders.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Incarceration

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.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Environmental Justice and Community-Based Public Health

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA