Prog Community Health Partnersh

Background.Successful community groups have the capacity to mobilize community assets to address needs. Capacity building education is integral to building competent communities.Objectives.A community-university team developed and pilot tested an education program for community advocates from disadvantaged neighborhoods with high chronic disease burden.Methods.The Community Advocacy and Leadership Program (CALP) included eight monthly workshops, a mini-grant opportunity and technical assistance. A nominal group with community health practitioners, focus group with community advocates and a literature search comprised a triangulated educational needs assessment. A participating pretest with thirty-five community health practitioners guided curriculum refinement. Seven representatives from three community groups in a medically underserved South Carolina county participated in pilot implementation and evaluation. Qualitative and quantitative data informed the process and impact evaluation.Conclusions.The mean knowledge score at one month post-program was 77% (range=52% to 96%). The mean score on post-program self-assessment of skills improvement was 3.8 out of a possible 4.0 (range=3.6 to 4.0). Two groups submitted successful community mini-grant applications for playground improvements, and the third group successfully advocated for public funding of neighborhood park improvements. Participants reported favorable impressions and both personal and community benefits from participation. A community-university partnership successfully conducted a local educational needs assessment and developed and pilot-tested a capacity development program within a CBPR partnership. Successes, challenges and lessons learned will guide program refinement, replication and dissemination.U48 DP001936/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United StatesU48/DP001936/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States2018-10-26T00:00:00Z25981431PMC6202684vault:3103