Community Connections for HealthVCU’s Center on Health Disparities Community Engagement Initiative with Mosby Court

VCU’s Center on Health Disparities The mission for VCU’s Center on Health

Disparities is to develop and facilitate research, education, community engagement and workforce diversity initiatives that will eliminate health disparities for populations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Community Connections for Health Subcommittee Creation Merged members of the Community Engagement

Planning Group with the Community Connections for Health (formerly Access to Care) subcommittee

Members include experts on local/regional minority health, community engagement, CPBR, local service providers

Meeting monthly with a goal of establishing a community connection and meaningful, engaged partnership within Richmond’s East End

Community Connections for HealthSubcommittee Start Up Pre-engagement activities:

Examined community-specific data patterns regarding morbidity and mortality.

Explored history of the East End Jointly learned about CBPR processes Explored possible methodologies for connecting with the

community (i.e.: focus groups, photo-voice) Developed a list of possible community partners working

within the East End community, including housing and community service providers

Worked to develop a draft of Core Values of the COHD’s Community Research Partnership

Community Connections for Health: Core Values Statement

The community connections for health subcommittee, a part of VCU’s Center on Health Disparities, focuses on developing programs and enhancing community partnerships that lead to more accessible, culturally sensitive health care for underserved populations and enhances the health and well-being of the community.

Community Connections for Health: Core Values Statement (con’t)

Through partnering with our local communities, we strive to: Understand the history of each community and its relationship with the

health care system Listen to the present concerns and recommendations of the community Build on existing strengths and capacities within each community and the

University to recommend actions in the form of research, health care access, education, and/or workforce diversity initiatives that could benefit the community

Link community representatives with the ongoing initiatives within the Center on Health Disparities as full partners and equal participants

Discuss research process and outcomes with the community and listen to the community’s recommendations for change based on the research findings

Support our community partners’ efforts to mobilize and advocate for lasting changes to improve health and well-being.

Community Connections for Health:First Steps (10/08 – 12/09) Developed subcommittee membership among

community and University professionals and concerned citizens

Worked with representatives of the housing developments & tenants associations to help define the parameters of “community” and determine the most beneficial partnership arrangement for all stakeholders.

Reviewed CBPR principles and social determinants of health information for all stakeholders

Establishing an engaged, trusted relationship with Mosby Court community

Brief Timeline of key partnership events… Initial meeting January 12, 2009 January: MLK day “Kick off” event in partnership with the

Public Health Student Association; Health food demo; “Place Matters”

February: Community Asset Mapping activity March: Invited to Mosby Tenant’s Association Mtg; first

planning/visioning meeting March meeting at Mosby: Planning/Visioning April: “Spring into Health and Safety” June: Visioning process community meeting August/September: Partnering for Community Days October/November: Reviewing needs assessment data December: Holiday Helping Hands

Creating a foundation for bi-directional, community engaged research

Ongoing activities: Gaining insight into community’s voiced concerns about youth, safety,

sexually transmitted disease (esp. among youth), lack of services supporting healthy lifestyles.

Reviewing an array of grant opportunities Reviewing working principles of community-engaged research with

community and University partners Developing a proposal to implement a “photovoice” project with

Mosby youth Investigating infrastructure development grants that can provide

ongoing funding support Conducting a community assessment of needs and preferences for

future initiatives that could be grant supported. Introducing new members to the partnership who may be able to carry

out the next steps of research

Expanding community and local organizational membership

Subcommittee members and partners include: Mosby Court tenant’s association leadership Mosby Court residents State Department of Health (Minority Health) Local Health District Parks and Recreation Richmond Housing Authority Local Service Providers Law Enforcement/Police/Truancy Health Professionals Social and Community Service Professionals Local School System (rebuilding trust) Creating academic partnerships that may lead to sustained research

Key Issues in moving forward “Showing up” at Mosby: consistency and trust

building Listening actively to the voice of the community Involving outside experts to help direct the CBPR

process to not lose sight of vision Integration of Mosby stakeholders with other

subcommittees and research initiatives of the COHD Establishing a role for the Mosby partnership within

the ongoing mission of the COHD as future partnership opportunities emerge

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