What works: Environmental health information outreach to African American faculty, graduate students, and community organizations


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

5005.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - Board 6

Abstract #117307

Gale Dutcher, MLS, MS, Specialized Information Services Division, Office of Outreach and Special Populations, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 510, Room 518, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301/496-5082, DUTCHERG@mail.nlm.nih.gov, Cynthia B. Love, MLS, Specialized Information Services, Office of Outreach and Special Populations, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 510, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Stacey J. Arnesen, MS, Specialized Information Services, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 510, Bethesda, MD 20892.

For more than a decade, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has worked with Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and community organizations to promote the use of Web-based environmental health, environmental justice, and toxicology resources by health professionals, researchers, students, and community organizations that are predominantly African American. Based on a variety of programs and projects, the types of outreach that work and don't work will be described. NLM has funded outreach efforts that included training, computer equipment, Internet connectivity, conference sponsorship, Web site development, student activities and faculty development. Funding recipients range from small community-based advocacy groups to a coalition of minority-serving health professional schools, formed in 1991, and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation. Successes, difficulties and lessons learned will be discussed. Projects in Louisiana and nearby states will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1. Describe US environmental justice issues as they affect African Americans, and understand the wide range of toxicology and environmental health interests among diverse organizations.
2. List key online resources that provide information on these issues.
3. Describe NLMs approach to enhancing access to toxicology and environmental health information for minority-serving schools and organizations.

Keywords: African American, Environmental Health

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 commercial supporters.

Evaluating Effectiveness of Environmental Health Policies and Programs

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA