Melany Mack, MSW¹, Ann Francis, PhD², Joan Nelson, MS², and Kavita P. Ahluwalia, DDS, MPH³. (1) Ingham County Health Department, PO Box 30161, 5303 S. Cedar St., Lansing, MI 48910, 212-304-7184, HCA_MACK@ingham.org, (2) Allen Neighborhood Center, 1619 E. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48912, (3) School of Dental and Oral Surgery, Columbia University, Division of Community Health, 630 West 168 St, New York, NY 10032

Allen Neighborhood Center (ANC), which serves as a hub for neighborhood education and capacity building in an underserved urban area in Lansing, MI , has collaborated with Ingham County Health Department to develop a unique program to promote health and wellness through a combination of outreach, peer education and service provision, including tobacco cessation. The program, which uses community health workers to provide both outreach and service linkages, is located in an area with a high rate of tobacco use and tobacco related illnesses. Baseline data (n=542) indicate that almost 28% of adults in the center’s service area are smokers. The Health Outreach Team, which consists of a coordinator and 4 CHWs recruited from the community, engages individuals in ‘front porch health dialogues” to determine health risks, tobacco use and readiness to quit. Services, including exercise programs, cessation services and nutrition advice are provided at the ANC. Between March and November, 2003, the team visited over 2,402 homes providing health information and service linkages to 2,687 individuals. 113 homes have been enrolled in a Smoke Free Honor Roll, and 39 clients have indicated the need for support in quitting. Despite funding and time constraints, preliminary data indicate that programs which allow for community ownership of the development, implementation and evaluation processes are more likely to be effective and sustainable, but care must be taken to work with partners who have the experience, resources and community credibility required to promote and support programs.

Learning Objectives:

• - describe the essential components of successful Community Health Worker Programs that respond to the unique needs of the communities they serve
• - understand how community members can be mobilized to develop, implement, and strengthen health outreach programs
• - describe how potential CHWs are recruited and retained, and how a sense of teamwork and camaraderie is nurtured and sustained
• - describe the role of outreach and canvassing in connecting information to action
• - understand the importance of providing easily accessible services in successful health outreach programs
• - understand barriers faced by CHW teams
• - describe successful strategies to address challenges in CHW programs

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Community-Based Partnership

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.