Establishing a volunteer Community Health Worker Advisory Board to partner in public health research and engage low income populations

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) partnered to create a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to determine how to best engage, serve and reduce health disparities of NRHA communities. The 10 member CAB was shaped from a diverse group of volunteers recruited through the NRHA Community Health Worker Program (CHW). Their main roles were to identify community priorities, needs, and interests; advocate on behalf of the community; and provide direction and leadership for assessing, planning and dissemination of health education. Two projects were completed under the direction of the joint partnership. CHWs served as smoking cessation advocates and counselors, by delivering a four week cessation curriculum and will continue to provide education to residents prior to implementation of a more restrictive NRHA smoking policy. A CHW-led community health and health behavior survey was completed. No prevalence data existed among 6,800 NRHA residents. Data was collected on 2,624 residents (39% response rate) which provided a snapshot of health in six communities. CHWs reported survey results at six community resident meetings. The CAB provided a collaborative mechanism for EVMS and NRHA to develop approaches to building communication, trust and capacity, thus enabling community residents to more actively participate in the research process and effectively engaging low income communities, with the goal of influencing change in community health. Implementing public health strategies in public housing communities may elevate residents’ health behaviors and improve quality-of-life. One CHW plans to attend and co-present on the project, CAB dynamics and partnership.