Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109395

Elmer R. Freeman, MSW, Center for Community Health Education, Research (CCHERS), Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc., 716 Columbus Ave., Suite 398, Boston, MA 02120, 617-373-5179, E.Freeman@neu.edu

Through its network of “academic community health centers” that integrate education and research into their historic missions of service to the underserved, the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc. (CCHERS) is focused on the development of community-academic partnerships for the elimination of health disparities among underserved racial/ethnic minority populations in the city of Boston. A partnership between Boston Medical Center, the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston University School of Medicine, Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences and fifteen community health centers, established in 1991, CCHERS has developed educational pipeline programs for diversity and workforce development; community based health services and clinical research for improved health outcomes; and integrated community health programs to promote healthy communities through partnerships between academic institutions, hospitals, community health centers, and local community residents.

This session will describe the organizational development and evolution of a partnership for education of health professions students in community based settings to one with a range of programs focused on the elimination of health disparities in health and health care in urban populations. It will also introduce a model for building partnerships for community health improvement by addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health in communities of color.

Learning Objectives:

• Identification of principles and practices for establishing effective community-academic partnerships.
• Discussion of relevant models of health services research and public health practice for studying social, economic and environmental determinants of health.
• How to develop an infrastructure for research and evaluation in community based settings.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Health Disparities

Related Web page: www.cchers.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Employee of the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc..

Recorded presentation