Online Program

288301
A change is gonna come: Creating a healthier Mississippi one community at a time! through evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic, and infrastructure interventions


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

DeMarc A. Hickson, PhD, MPH, Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
Deja Abdul-Haqq, BS, Office of Organization Development, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Ridgeland, MS
Shamir Lee, MSW, Center for Research, Evaluation and Environmental & Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Ridgeland, MS
Honoray Ard, MA, Center for Research, Evaluation and Environmental & Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Ridgeland, MS
Dantrell Simmons, MA, Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
June Gipson, PhD, EdS, Center for Community-Based Programs, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Ridgeland, MS
Project CHANGE Leadership Team, Center for Research, Evaluation and Environmental & Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Ridgeland, MS
Background: Residents in Mississippi brunt the greatest burden of cardiovascular disease outcomes (incidence, morbidity and mortality) and related risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, poor nutrition and tobacco use). Consequently, the continuance of these trends undermines national public health prevention strategies - the overarching objective of Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) is to understand and reduce inequalities in health. Methods: Project CHANGE is a novel statewide initiative funded by the Prevention and Public Health Fund 2012: Community Transformation Grants. This initiative utilizes a comprehensive set of evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic, and infrastructure interventions in strategic areas that align with HP2020 performance measures. Strategic areas include: Tobacco Free Living; Active Living & Healthy Eating; High Impact Quality Clinical and Other Preventive Services; Social and Emotional Wellness; and, Healthy & Safe Physical Environment. Performance measures, as outlined in the Affordable Care Act, include: changes in: weight, proper nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use prevalence, and emotional well-being and overall mental health. We assessed the progress of our community capacity building efforts, implementation of pilot interventions, and other program-related achievements. Results: As of February 2013, the following (though not an exhaustive list) gains have been made: (1) an annual statewide capacity building training conference, (2) 28 community health fairs and forums, (3) Telling Your Story documentary highlighting the deplorable conditions in many underserved communities, (4) 18 event partnerships, (5) passage of comprehensive smoke-free ordinances in 27 local municipalities, and (6) state-level legislation (e.g., bills) that supports joint use agreements, safe-routes-to-schools, city/county farmers markets, and healthy food retail stores. Conclusions: Full implementation of the proposed interventions across Mississippi will be the catalyst to the needed “Cultural Revolution of Health,” where the shared knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of healthy lifestyle choices and supportive environments to make these choices will extend life expectancy in Mississippi and globally.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Environmental health sciences
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Discuss and articulate the purpose and objectives of the Prevention and Public Health Fund: Community Transformation Grants Program. List at least five specific evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic, and infrastructure interventions to initiate changes in either (1) weight, (2) proper nutrition, (3) physical activity, (4) tobacco use prevalence, or (5) emotional well-being and overall mental health. Evaluate the best practices for specific evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic, and infrastructure interventions Identify one or more evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic, and infrastructure interventions relevant to improving the health in communities within their own jurisdictions.

Keyword(s): Community-Based Public Health, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Currently, I as the principal investigator of Project CHANGE and multiple federally and foundation funded grants that focus on improving community health through environmental and systems changes. My work also focuses on understanding the etiology of health outcomes that are experienced by underserved and underrepresented populatons such as racial and sexual minority populations and rural populations. Among my scientific interests has been the development of community and policy-level interventions as well as homegrown interventions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.