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| Sonjia Kenya, EdD, Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL; Luther G. Brewster, PhD, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Stempel School of Public Health/ FIU, Miami, FL;
Anthony Jennings, JD, MPA, Booker T. Washington High School, Miami, FL;
David Brown, MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL |
| Systemic barriers to accessing culturally appropriate nutrition information contribute to racial disparities in disease morbidity. Diabetes mortality rates among the Black population in Miami are 40% higher than the general population. Overtown, a historic Black community, is one of the most impoverished urban communities in Miami suffering the highest disease rates. Our pilot-study generated the concept of the “Overtown Diet” as a community based participatory research (CBPR) nutrition program. Shared decision-making led to a service-learning strategy for initial phases of the project. Reliance on volunteers necessitated iterative and flexible strategies to seek mutual gain, and sensitivity to the needs of all participants. In partnership with high school students, academic partners, a local restaurant, and current and past residents of Overtown, we examined behavioral and cultural obstacles to optimal health and created a novel nutrition education curriculum, as initial steps in the development of a community-wide intervention. The Overtown Cookbook project endeavors to increase awareness of health risks associated with poor dietary intake and disseminate nutritious recipes that preserve traditional culinary tastes representative of the community. Concepts addressed are ingredient substitutions, efficacious beliefs, cultural norms, cost barriers, and transgenerational and community effects. Program activities include recipe construction, food preparation, taste-testing, and content development for website and educational literature which will lead to production of a health-conscious cookbook grounded in local culture. Community collaboration facilitated genesis, framing, and implementation of the project. This experience suggests service learning may serve as a tool to foster relationship development and trust to advance CBPR principles. |
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the development of a Community Based Participatory Research Collaborative in Miami 2. Describe how service-learning approaches promoted the development of the collaborative. 3. Discuss service-learning as a model to set the stage for CBPR |
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| Rochelle Baer, LCSW, Sonjia Kenya, EdD, Katie Houghton. Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1500 NW 12 Ave., Suite 1208-W, Miami, FL 33136. (2) Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 301 PAC, Miami, FL 33136. |
| In 2003 Miami had one of the largest populations of people with disabilities in the U.S. and was without a comprehensive resource guide detailing agencies and venues accessible to disabled individuals. Following the footsteps of Washington D.C. and many other American cities that provide a resource guide for the physically disabled, we developed ACCESS MIAMI to offer disabled residents with information about a myriad of resources. Potential businesses that were reviewed for inclusion were identified through positive recommendations from disabled residents, a resource hotline and the local telephone directory. Over 40 businesses and agencies met selection criteria and the comprehensive guide was divided into 16 categories, including arts, education, wheelchair rentals, employment, equipment, home modification and on-line resources. Development occurred over 8 months and 500 copies of an inaugural guide were printed with support from the Dade Community Foundation. Funding was secured from the Allegheny Foundation to print a second edition in 2007. |
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| Luther G. Brewster, PhD, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Stempel School of Public Health/ FIU, Miami, FL;
David Brown, MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL;
Agnes Morton, RN, Booker T. Washington Alumni Association, Miami, FL;
Anthony Jennings, JD, MPA , Booker T. Washington High School, Miami, FL;
Sonjia Kenya, EdD, Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL |
| Research to quantify the health effects of urban renewal has focused on psychological trauma most notably the phenomena of “Root Shock.” It has been posited that urban renewal and accompanying displacement is the fundamental cause for disease by means of influencing the distribution and access of resources. Exogenous change to the built environment in low and moderate income communities may impact social capital, health networks and social determinants of health. The overall aim of this research project is to assess physical changes to a Miami minority community and the accompanying changes in social networks, pollution and safety, employment patterns, educational attainment, healthcare and housing tenure. Data are collected by conducting oral histories, interviews, town hall meetings and mapping exercises. Preliminary data suggests that municipal transportation and community development agencies perceive health and social services as outside of the purview of their agencies. Community members perceive offers of token participation in the planning process as an attempt to weaken social networks and ignore demands for components that address their safety and physiological hierarchal needs. Outcomes of the investigation could inform urban planning efforts aimed at addressing health and its social determinants as well as offer avenues for expanding the “Root Shock” paradigm. |
Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the role nonhealth related policies, programs and projects can play in facilitating optimal health. 2. List at least three potential barriers to integrating health themes within the urban renewal agenda. 3. Articulate elements of community based research that could be used by policymakers to transform existing token participation into representative community participation. 4. Discuss the complexity and diversity of community response to exogenous changes to their community. 5. Develop a strategies for assembling a multidisciplinary team committed to health equity and community based research. |
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