Healthmatters community academic partnership: Creating tools for community action among people with developmental disabilities and their supports

Extending advocacy to health and wellness activities is a key element for bridging equity gaps and achieving self-direction among people with DD. HealthMatters™ CAP is an NIH-funded collaboration which aims to enhance health status and optimize full community participation of people with DD across the lifespan. Through HealthMatters™ CAP, two community-based organizations (CBOs), NorthPointe Resources of Zion, IL and ARCA of Albuquerque, NM, and an academic institution (University of Illinois at Chicago) are working together to build capacity in communities through evidence-based curricula and training to improve health. This presentation will discuss capacity building initiatives among eight Affiliate CBOs in Illinois and New Mexico to build an infrastructure for community linked health promotion research programs, service-learning activities, and training initiatives for people with DD. Key stakeholders from each CBO participated in two days of iterative dialogue and strategic action planning using the HealthMatters Assessments (HMA) to understand their unique organizational and community needs for developing a sustainable health promotion program for people with DD and their supports. Within the HMA, capacities are explored in four areas: 1) Health Promotion Programs and Services; 2) Environmental Supports and Resources for Nutrition and Physical Activity; 3) Organizational Culture (Commitment, Policies and Incentives, Structures); and, 4) Employee Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes Related to Health Promotion. We will discuss the processes used with the HMA to guide the development of organizational strategic plans aimed at building collective and self efficacy to develop and implement health promotion programs for people with DD.