Community Capacity Building to Reduce Health Disparities
Principle Investigator(s): Marc Zimmerman
Project Manager: Julie Ober Allen
Project Dates: 2004-2009
Funding: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; PRC/MI Core Project
Description:
The goal of this project is to increase our Community Based Organization (CBO)
partners' capacity to more effectively identify and develop
research questions that will address health behaviors and
health disparities through individual, environmental and systems
change.
The project provides CBOs with several opportunities
for: 1) understanding the effect of historical, cultural,
and structural determinants of health disparities; 2) developing
their infrastructure; 3) enhancing their capability to work
with and effect University researchers and community institutions
(e.g., Health Department, health service system); and 4) developing
their power to influence state and local policy makers to
effect environmental and systems change to address health
priorities and health disparities of concern to them.
The
intervention consists of comprehensive technical assistance
(defined by CBOs) for CBOs. It also includes opportunities
for CBOs to increase non-CBO capacity for working with communities.
A multiple case study design is used to document and evaluate
organizational change. This project is guided by empowerment
theory and will assess organizational change related to organizational
empowerment.
Partner Organizations:
Dort-Oak Park Neighborhood House
Faith Access to Community Economic Development
(FACED)
Flint Odyssey House Inc., Health Awareness Center (FOHI HAC)
Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD)
Genesee County Health Department (GCHD)
Greater Flint Health Cooalition
Neighborhood Roundtable
YOUR Center
Capacity Building Steering Committee:
Julie Allen, UM SPH (Interim Chair)Kent Key, FOHI HAC (Community Co-chair)
Lee Bell, Neighborhood Roundtable
Bob Boyler, Dort Oak Park Neighborhood House
Bettina Campbell, YOUR Center
E. Hill De Loney, FOHI HAC
Rev. Hydrian Elliott, Dort Oak Park Neighborhood House
Erica Leverette, FACED
Yvonne Lewis, FACED
Lauren Shirey, GCHD
Stephen Skorcz, Greater Flint Health Coalition
Arlene Sparks, GCCARD
Contact:
Julie Ober Allen
Project Manager
UM School of Public Health
(734) 647-0542