The purpose of this learning event was to disseminate knowledge and promote replication of model practices known to contribute to the reach of seasonal influenza prevention to vulnerable, at-risk, and minority populations. The focus was on a new toolkit and case examples that demonstrate these model practices and partnership capacity in action. This event was embedded in a live meeting being held at Emory.

• Moderator:  Connie Jorstad, Director of Emerging Infections at ASTHO, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
• Project Overview:  Mimi Kiser, Interfaith Health Program, Emory University
• Discussion and Response Panel:  Model Practices “Wisdom from the Field”— Faith and Health leaders from four community-based collaboratives
  • Kirsten Peachey, Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation, Chicago, IL
  • Shirley Fleming, Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation, Chicago, IL
  • Pat Peterson, MINI – Minnesota Immunization Network Initiative, Fairview Health Services, Minnesota
  • Kay Jones, Schuylkill County VISION, Pennsylvania
  • Molyka Tieng, Lowell Community Health Center, MA

Since 2009, the Interfaith Health Program (IHP) has worked with the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the CDC, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) to increase access to influenza prevention services. They have collaborated with ten diverse sites around the country to mobilize trusted networks of faith-based and community organizations and demonstrate effective practices for extending the reach of public health to vulnerable, at-risk, and minority populations.

The content of the webinar will be from a new toolkit developed collaboratively by IHP and ASTHO based on a “Model Practices Framework.” A modified Delphi technique as well as an evaluation that examined in depth three of the ten sites to identify the capacities effective in reaching African-American communities were used to identify the distinctive elements and capacities of effective outreach with faith based organizations. The panelists will describe their work that exemplifies some of the model practices in the toolkit and respond to participant questions.

After participating in/viewing this webinar, you will be able to:

• Describe the characteristics of faith-based and community organizations likely to be strong partners in reaching hard-to-reach, vulnerable, at-risk, and minority populations.
• Describe effective strategies for establishing and/or strengthening partnerships between public health and local trusted networks of faith-based and community partners for the purposes of planning and implementing interventions to reach priority populations.

This session has been approved for 1.5 Entry and Advanced-level Category I continuing education contact hours (CECHs) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and Master Health Education Specialists (MCHES).  SOPHE, including its chapters, is a designated multiple event provider of CECHs by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).  This session also has been approved for 1.5 CPH Renewal Credits by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

Create a free SOPHE CORE account to access and manage all continuing education opportunities by visiting:  www.sophe.org/education.cfm

These activities have received support from the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement to Improve the Nation’s Public Health Infrastructure with State Public Health Agencies/Systems (Cooperative Agreement #U50/CC U313903-05).