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Relationship Model for Accessing and Assessing Underserved Communities

A Good Idea

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

The greatest public health problem in the United States today is health disparities. The reason for these disparities is not just lack of access to health care; it is the inability to apply life-saving messages to various disenfranchised communities that often are disproportionately affected by disease. The Relationship Model for Accessing and Assessing Underserved Communities uses community leadership as an effective entry point into target communities. By accessing the communities through formal and informal community leaders, health department staff were able to build relationships while assessing awareness, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceived barriers to care through the Key-Informant Interview process.

Goal / Mission

The model was developed to improve the ability of the American Cancer Society (ACS), the organization with the lead role, to reach underserved communities in order to increase colorectal cancer screening.

Results / Accomplishments

By developing trusting relationships and sharing assessments with community leaders, staff were able to generate collaborations to increase access to colonoscopy, increase understanding of its importance to detecting cancer and; thus, increase colorectal screening among the people of this community.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
St. Louis City Department of Health
Primary Contact
No current contact information available
Topics
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Health / Mortality Data
Health / Other Conditions
Organization(s)
St. Louis City Department of Health
Source
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Date of publication
2005
Location
St Louis, MO
For more details
Additional Audience
Underserved Communities
Nevada Tomorrow