Implementation Facilitators and Challenges of a Place-Based Intervention to Reduce Health Disparities in Harlem Through Community Activation and Mobilization

Bibliographic Data

ID22081684
AuthorsNancy VanDevanter (New York University, corresponding author), Lynna Zhong (New York University), Rachel Dannefer (0000-0002-0841-9952, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Noel Manyindo (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Sterling Walker (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Victor Otero (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Kimberly V Smith (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Kimberly Smith (0009-0000-2346-5343), Rose Keita (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Lorna E Thorpe (0000-0002-5535-2674, New York University), Lorna Thorpe, Elizabeth Drackett (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Lois Seidl (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), La'Shawn Brown-Dudley, La’Shawn Brown-Dudley (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Katherine Earle (Community Service Society), Nadia Islam (0000-0003-1470-2073, New York University)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages689942-689942
Publication date2022-04-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.689942
PMID35558526
OpenAlexW4225006063
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited18

Background: To address significant health inequities experienced by residents of public housing in East and Central Harlem compared to other New Yorkers, NYC Department of Health and Mental Health (DOHMH) collaborated with community and academic organizations and the New York City Housing Authority to develop a place-based initiative to address chronic diseases in five housing developments, including a community activation and mobilization component led by community health organizers (CHOs). Purpose: Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we evaluated the initial implementation of the community activation and mobilization component to systematically investigate factors that could influence the successful implementation of the intervention. Methods: Nineteen in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of CHOs, community members and leaders, collaborating agencies and DOHMH staff. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and themes and codes were developed to identify theoretically important concepts of the CFIR and emergent analytic patterns. Results: Findings identified important facilitators to implementation: positive community perception of the program, CHO engagement and responsiveness to community needs, CHO norms and values and adaptability of DOHMH and CHOs to community needs. Challenges included the instability of the program in the first year, limited ability to address housing related issues, concerns about long term funding, competing community priorities, low expectations by the community for the program, time and labor intensity to build trust within the community, and the dual roles of CHOs as community advocates and DOHMH employees. Conclusions: Findings will guide future community activation and mobilization activities. The study demonstrates the value of integrating implementation science and health equity frameworks

Community mobilization · Health equity · Mobilization · Political science · Public health · Community Health and Development · Health disparities and outcomes · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine · Nursing · Gerontology