Community Capacity Building Research Articles

Abstract B059: An evidence-based sexual health education program to reduce STI and teen pregnancy rates in Philadelphia

Abstract Background: Approximately 25% of Philadelphia's sexually transmitted infections (STI) cases are among teens aged 15-19. Furthermore, there are increased rates of teen pregnancy in Philadelphia compared to other Pennsylvania counties. Lack of comprehensive sexual health education can leave youth vulnerable to various STIs and teen pregnancy. Proud Teens of Philly (PTOP) is a comprehensive sexual health education program for youth aged 12-19 to promote healthy choices and ultimately reduce sexual health disparities in Philadelphia. Methods: Participants were recruited from a network of partner sites such as public and charter schools, churches, and community-based organizations to attend eight 1-hour virtual synchronous sessions. An evidence-based comprehensive curriculum, Making Proud Choices (MPC), which aims to reduce risky behaviors was utilized. Pre- and post-surveys that examine intention to have sex, perceived susceptibility to STIs/HIV, and attitudes toward sex, condom use, and STIs were administered to 246 youth. Paired samples t-tests were used to evaluate changes before and after the program. Results: There were significant increases in positive attitudes towards condom use (pre=26.54, post=27.73, t=-2.18, p=0.03), more negative attitudes towards STIs/HIV (pre=7.62, post=6.65, t=5.22, p<0.001), and increased perceived susceptibility towards contracting STIs/HIV following the intervention (pre=4.41, post=5.39, t=-2.84, p<0.01). PTOP has successfully linked students to various local adolescent health clinics to bring resources directly to the students. An important lesson learned is the need for diverse facilitators to represent the diverse student populations we serve. Conclusion: The PTOP program was effective in promoting positive attitude towards condom use and STIs/HIV prevention behaviors. Its impact also expanded to teen advocacy and community capacity building. The systems thinking approach has shown to be critical in achieving sustainable changes in this high-risk population. Citation Format: Ra'Ann Merceir, Jade Truehart, Aisha Bhimla, Yin Tan, Jane Sileo, Lin Zhu, Min Qi Wang, Sabrina Liao, Julia Trout, Priya Nigam, Ellen Kim, Aimee Bogan, Grace X. Ma. An evidence-based sexual health education program to reduce STI and teen pregnancy rates in Philadelphia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B059.

Abstract B040: Promoting liver cancer awareness and prevention initiative in underserved racial/ethnic minority populations via community-based participatory research strategies

Abstract Background Hispanic, Asian, and African Americans experience greater burden of liver cancer, and research has shown that these three populations experience multiple level barriers to liver cancer awareness and prevention. Chronic infections with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the most common risk factors of liver cancer. As a critical component of The Synergistic Partnership for Enhancing Equity in Cancer Health (SPEECH), Community Outreach Core (COC) aims to (1) strengthen community engagement in cancer outreach research through evidence-based community cancer education initiatives and outreach activities, and (2) provide a robust and sustainable community-based participatory research (CBPR) infrastructure for the SPEECH Partnership. Objectives This presentation aims to describe the use of CBPR principles and how these methods impacted the planning and implementation of multilevel community initiatives on liver cancer prevention through community engagement to address liver cancer disparities in low-income, underserved minority communities. Methods Guided by CBPR principles and built on well-established collaboration with community-based organizations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City, the COC team actively engaged community advisory board (CAB), healthcare workers, and community members in multiple phases of (1) liver cancer prevention educational initiative, (2) city-wide bus campaign with on-bus posters advertising HBV/HCV screening and liver cancer prevention, and (3) community health fairs, in which information and education about HBV, HCV, and liver cancer was provided to the community member attendees. Results The educational workshops in the community initiative significantly improved community members’ knowledge about HBV/HCV, behaviors on HBV/HCV screening, as well as dietary patterns. Specifically, 21% of the patients who did not have an HBV test at baseline had a test at 6 months, while 11% of the patients who did not have an HCV test at baseline had a test at 6 months. In the bus campaign, the COC team collected evaluation forms from bus riders. Among the 173 respondents, 22.7% reported seeing the ad. Riders who saw the ad were significantly more likely to get screened for HBV/HCV than those who did not (86.5% vs 58.3%). Regarding the community health fair, among 44 participants who received our on-site education, 77.3% of them reported that they would talk to their doctors about getting HBV/HCV screenings. The comprehensive engagement of CAB, healthcare workers, and community members significantly benefited community capacity building on cancer research and health promotion. Conclusions Our findings indicate that CBPR-guided community initiative, campaign, and health fairs have remarkable positive impacts on promoting liver cancer awareness and prevention among underserved racial/ethnic minorities. Moreover, community participation was built on trust and previous relationships, which would finally empower the community with increased health promotion capacity. Citation Format: Wenyue Lu, Lin Zhu, Di Zhu, Evelyn Gonzalez, Marilyn A. Fraser, Ming-chin Yeh, Steven Zhu, Grace X. Ma, Olorunseun O. Ogunwobi, Yin Tan. Promoting liver cancer awareness and prevention initiative in underserved racial/ethnic minority populations via community-based participatory research strategies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B040.

From Local to Global: A Comprehensive Strategy to Boost Cassava Export from Indonesia’s Rural Regions

Employing a participatory action research method, this study provides an in-depth analysis of community development programs in Kemiri Village, Gunungkidul, in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The research focuses on interventions aimed at enhancing the marketing and packaging skills of farmers engaged in cassava production. Through multi-stakeholder collaboration involving local government, NGOs, and academic institutions, the initiatives have successfully equipped farmers with the skills needed for export-standard packaging. The evaluation phase utilized skill assessment tests and focus group discussions, revealing substantial improvements in farmers’ skill sets. Specifically, the farmers demonstrated a marked ability to understand and implement advanced packaging techniques, thereby meeting international export standards. These skill improvements have enhanced their competitiveness, facilitating their capacity to compete in international markets and contributing to community capacity building. In conclusion, this research underscores the transformative potential of participatory community development programs, particularly in empowering rural farmers with the skills necessary for global market engagement.

Community Satisfaction Analysis of the Implementation of Semen Gresik Rembang Factory’s CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a form of corporate responsibility to the surrounding environment that the company must carry out to minimize environmental damage as a result of the establishment of the industry. This research wants to see the benefits of the program based on the results of community satisfaction assessment with quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the success of CSR program implementation. Public satisfaction with the implementation of the CSR program implemented by Semen Gresik Rembang Factory is directly proportional to the benefits obtained by the community. The success of the program is not only judged by the number of activities carried out, but also by the level of community satisfaction with the program and community participation in the program to support the improvement of the quality of human resources. Community capacity building is carried out through community empowerment programs to support sustainable development, which is an obligation in development in the world. The development and usefulness of activity programs need to be developed and expanded by beneficiaries to be able to solve problems that exist in the social, economic, and environmental spheres that are more effective and have a broader impact. The development and usefulness of activity programs need to be developed and expanded by beneficiaries to be able to solve problems that exist in the social, economic, and environmental spheres that are more effective and have a broader impact. The increase in community involvement also needs to be carried out not only in the process of identification, socialization, implementation, and monitoring of evaluation, but further participation until the community is able and participates in sharing more roles in the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility activities carried out by Semen Gresik Rembang Factory.

The Concept of Slum Management Become A Tourism Zone In Kendari City

This study aims to assess to find out how the public views the handling of slums in the Kendari City Coastal Area and how the sustainability of slum handling. This research is classified as a qualitative research type, by analyzing the area to be studied because this research is classified as an exploratory research type, by describing the condition and situation of the area that is the object of research. To answer the first research objective related to the pattern of slum handlers, a survey was conducted to find out the pattern of handling slums in Kendari City, carried out by analyzing data sourced from literature and reports on the results of treatment. and for the second problem an analysis will be carried out on the next plan for handling slums. In this case the researcher will conduct a qualitative analysis, by describing based on the documentation materials of the results of the research. The results of the study show that sustainability by the community is carried out by the community beneficiaries of the program, with the existence of a Planning Document made by the Community through BKM which aims to make the implementation of Slum Management sustainable. Analysis of the impact received by the community by comparing the conditions of the settlements before and after the implementation of the slum management program based on the determinants of the criteria (physical and non-physical) and the established indicators obtained an illustration that the community received a significant impact. Analysis of increasing knowledge, even though the nuances of the project are very thick, but the principles of measurable empowerment with predetermined achievements are carried out in accordance with existing regulations, so that clashes of thought between empowerment goals versus project goals can be minimized and Community capacity building analysis can be it was found that increasing community capacity was described by the preparation of a Settlement Environmental Management Plan (RPLP) document which was compiled as a guideline based on the aspirations, needs and ideals of the community to improve the environmental conditions of their settlements. In particular, the results of this study illustrate that in an effort to turn slum areas into tourist areas, the pattern of handling slums is shown by emphasizing the need for an intensive program in handling slums in Kendari City, in an integrated, comprehensive and holistic way, namely: Integrated pattern of handling, which is integrated by applying the concept of community-based development (CBD) development, Redevelopment, Revitalization (physical, environmental, social, economic, cultural), as well as efforts to apply the principles of Urban Sustainable Development, so that slum areas can maintain their environment and at the same time have economic value tourist area.

Models of school breakfast program implementation in Western Australia and the implications for supporting disadvantaged students

A substantial body of literature points to the educational and social benefits of school breakfast programs. Most high-income countries provide free or subsidized school breakfasts to support disadvantaged children. Australia does not have a nationally-funded school meal program. Instead, charitable organizations offer school breakfast programs on a voluntary basis, often with funding support from state/territory governments. Decisions about participating in a school breakfast program (SBP), which students to support, and the degree of integration with other strategies to support disadvantaged students are made at the school level. This large-scale, multi-year study examined models of SBP implementation in Western Australian (WA) schools and stakeholder perceptions of the impact of SBPs at the classroom and whole school level. Findings indicate that the approaches adopted by WA schools reflect the extent to which SBPs are part of an integrated approach to supporting disadvantaged students. Minimalist approaches were evident where the focus was limited to alleviating hunger. More inclusive, resource‐intensive models were apparent where the SBP was positioned within a whole school approach to student wellbeing and/or community capacity-building. All schools reported benefits for disadvantaged students, however, the social benefits of SBPs that manifested at the classroom and whole school level were more pronounced in schools that had adopted more integrated, whole school approaches. The findings have implications for Australian schools and other countries that seek to optimize the role of SBPs to provide more holistic support for vulnerable students and reduce the impact of social and economic disadvantage.

Hazard Mitigation Training for Vulnerable Communities: A K.A.P.S. (Knowledge, Attitude, Preparedness, Skills) Approach

Hazards are ubiquitous, but the repercussions of hazards are felt mostly by vulnerable communities. To build a sustainable community, its members need to be trained to face hazard in order to avert it from turning into a disaster. Although disaster education is in its nascent stage in the field of education, it can assist communities to reduce vulnerabilities and increase their resilience. In the book Hazard Mitigation Training for Vulnerable Communities-A K.A.P.S. (Knowledge, Attitude, Preparedness, Skills) Approach, Joy Semien and Earthea Nance walk you step by step through the process of imparting disaster education to communities. This book is based on the KAPS model and its application in disaster training. The book is divided into three parts: Part 1 deals with ‘Disaster and Communities’, the second part elaborates on the KAPS Model, and the third part describes the process for implementing KAPS. Semien and Nance view that training vulnerable communities to mitigate hazards is a form of community capacity building. Community capacity-building activities enable all individuals in a community, including the most disadvantaged, to develop coping skills and competencies to address their problems. Unlike the top-down approach to capacity building of multi-cultural multi-hazard communities, they have endorsed a bottom-up approach for community training. By being empathetic advocates and active listeners, the trainers can gain the confidence of the community members. This would ultimately lead to the effective training of vulnerable communities.

Restocking of small water bodies for a post Covid recovery and growth of fisheries and aquaculture production: Socioeconomic implications

Restocking of fish in Small Water Bodies (SWBs) is one of the technologies that can be used to enhance fish-food production for post Covid recovery and growth in food security, and national development. The current study aimed at assessing the socioeconomic impact and stock performance of restocked Nile tilapia fingerlings in SWBs in 15 counties in the Western and Central regions where the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) is implemented. The study employed both primary and secondary data from socioeconomics, environmental characteristics and fisheries and aquaculture aspects. There was no restocked dam with a low (<1.66) socioeconomic impact, indicating the potential for restocking. The majority (n = 27; 79%) of the restocked SWBs had a moderate (1.66–2.33) impact, owing to the inherent constraints of adoptability by the local community. Twenty one percent (n = 7; 21%) of the SWBs had a high (2.34–3.00) impact and with better environmental conditions. The average condition factor (K) of tilapia in restocked SWBs was 1.24 ± 0.53 SD, suggesting excellent fish growth condition. Notably, restocking the SWBs could benefit riparian fishing communities by improving their livelihoods and providing food and nutritional security. Given the limited exploitation of fish in most SWBs in the developing countries, additional community awareness and capacity building interventions are needed to enhance optimal use of SWBs in post Covid era.

Capacity Building and Empowerment of Communities Through Development of Irrigation Schemes in Kenya

The goal of this study was to explore the effect of Irrigations Schemes Development (as rooted in; Vision 2030, Kenya Big Four Agenda, ASTGS and National Irrigation Authority Strategic Plan 2019-2023) on capacity building and empowerment of communities. Specifically, the study sought to access the effect of irrigation scheme development on; Education and Training, Clean Water and Sanitation, Youth Access to Funds, Housing Type, Food Security, Job Diversity, Access to Health Care Services, Changing Demand, Irrigation Orientation and Water Harvest. Descriptive design was used as a road map of the study. A sample size of 395 respondents was drawn from a target population of 35,041 households living around the irrigation scheme in Mara Region, Tharaka-Nithi County-Kenya, subjected to a 95% confidence level. Convenience sampling was adopted to drum up participants. Primary data was collected using interview method. A semi-structured interview guide with Likert scale rating was used as a checklist. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data. Study results indicated that Development of Irrigation Schemes contributed to capacity building and empowerment of Kenyan communities by; facilitating access to clean water and sanitation within homesteads (77%) enabling sufficient food and balanced diet throughout the year (197; 56%). Statistically, the study showed that infrastructure was significantly associated with capacity building (ρ=0.03). In addition, the irrigation scheme improved the lifestyle of the locals through access to health care services and comfortable housing. From the income earned from farming, out of 395, only 105 (30%) and 47 (12%) could afford to educate their families to secondary and tertiary level respectively. According to the study, an acre of irrigated land employees an average of eight people on a full-time basis. The study highlighted challenges in water storage and maintenance which can be addressed by involving Kenyan government agencies, County government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders in the development and provision of sufficient water storage facilities. From the results finding there is need for comprehensive research within the irrigation scheme through agricultural research and development to address the concerns of the future effects of chemical use on the health of the locals. The study recommends that local authorities renew the engagement of agricultural extension workers. Additionally, to counter the bargaining power of middlemen, farmer welfare organizational structures should be operationalized.

The effects of school gardens on fruit and vegetable consumption at school: A randomized controlled trial with low-income elementary schools in four U.S. states

This randomized controlled trial examines the effects of a school garden intervention on children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption at school over two years. We randomly assigned schools to the intervention group that received gardens and related curriculum (n = 24) or to the waitlist control group that received gardens and curriculum at the conclusion of the study (n = 22). Children in second, fourth, and fifth grade at baseline (n = 2767) in low-income schools (n = 46) in four U.S. States (Arkansas, Iowa, New York, and Washington) participated. The intervention comprised gardens for each classroom; a curriculum focused on nutrition, plant science, and horticulture, including activities and FV tasting sessions; resources for the school that addressed topics such as soil contamination and food safety; an implementation guide focused on issues related to planning, planting, and maintaining the garden through the year, engaging volunteers, summer gardening, building community capacity, and sustaining the gardening program. FV consumption was measured by photographing lunches before and after children ate, for 2–3 days, at baseline and at each of 3 subsequent periods of data collection during the intervention. FV consumption was calculated using Digital Food Image Analysis. Among children in the intervention, fruit consumption and low-fat vegetable consumption increased from pre-garden baseline to post-garden more than among control group children. Garden intervention fidelity (GIF) also predicted changes in dietary intake, with more robust interventions showing a stronger effect than weaker interventions. GIF-lessons was a particularly potent predictor of change in dietary intake. School gardens modestly increase children’s FV consumption at school.

Preliminary Research on the Sustainable Determinants of Taiwanese Ecotourism with the International Standards.

To analyze Taiwanese ecotourism with international standards, this research employed the social learning theory (SLT) to identify the determinants of Taiwanese community ecotourism with the international standards. This basic theory of social psychology comprehensively assays the interplays and interconnections among the three analytical perspectives (ecotourism tours, destinations, and accommodations), the four essential issues (management, social, cultural, and environment) of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the six assessed dimensions of ecotourism resolution from the WCC, and the twenty-nine assessed indexes of the KES ecotourism evaluations. It was then possible to comprehensively explore the sustainable determinants of Taiwanese ecotourism with the international standards through the FA of quantitative and qualitative analyses in combination with the highest research validity, reliability, representativeness, and accuracy. After analyzing the evaluated measurements, the empirical and valuable conclusions and findings are (1) these analytical perspectives, appraised attitudes, evaluated criteria, and sub-criteria positively advance Taiwanese ecotourism with the international standards (PITEEICIS); (2) the sustainable determinants of Taiwanese ecotourism with the international standards include the Support for Capacity Building of the Local Community (SCBLC), Cooperation with the Local Community (CLC), Supports for the Local Enterprises (SLE), Local Participation and Benefits Sharing Duties (LPBSD), Tourist Management (TM), and Responsible Tourist Behaviors Inducement (RTBI). Importantly, the majority of ecotourism industrialists and experts still focus on the economic benefits, such as supporting the local community and enterprises, rather than tourist behavior inducement to stimulate ecotourism participation in order to promote and advance the Taiwanese ecotourism to the international standards; (3) in order to promote Taiwanese ecotourism to the international conventions, the Taiwanese government and organizations in ecotourism should contribute toward the local welfare and create and design various training programs and courses to enhance local community's awareness and capability of ecotourism development in order to establish a complete system that stimulates the ongoing planning and decision making of local community participation and regularly monitors, records, and reflects their opinions, based on the area's history, culture, and natural attributes, to develop and sell sustainable local products by creating fair trade principles and valuable products.

(178) Building Community Capacity: the Development of a TBI Behavioral Health ECHO

(178) Building Community Capacity: the Development of a TBI Behavioral Health ECHO

Upaya Pemerintah Desa Mendorong Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Pembangunan Desa Oluhuta Kecamatan Atinggola Kabupaten Gorontalo Utara

This study aims to find out the village government efforts to encourage community participation in the development of Oluhuta Village at AtinggolaSubdistrict in North Gorontalo District and to investigate the supporting and inhibiting factors of the village government efforts to encourage community participation in the development of Oluhuta Village at AtinggolaSubdistrict in North Gorontalo District. This study uses a qualitative method. The data collection employs observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis technique uses data collection, data reduction, data display, and conclusions. The results of this study indicate that the efforts of the village government to encourage community participation in village development are: 1) providing guidance to the community regarding environmental concern by keeping the environment clean from rubbish, 2) building community capacity in developing cattle production from the village government, and 3) fostering the decision-making process through village meetings. The supporting and inhibiting factors to the efforts of the village government to encourage community participation in village development, namely: 1) the supporting factors to the efforts of the village government to encourage community participation in village development are namely the openness and the commitment of the village government in involving the community in the development and the attitude of community cooperation in the development activities, and the level of relatively high community education, 2) the inhibiting factors to the efforts of the village government to encourage community participation in the development of the village come from the government itself, which is not capable of accounting for reporting the use of village finances so that village development financing is obstructed, and the ignorance attitude of the community in viewing the village development is not important, so in the implementation of development in Oluhuta Village most of the community does not participate in the development.

Assessing Public Perceptions on Coastal Access -Community Profile: A Case Study of Ngqushwa Local Municipality, South Africa

Access to available marine resources and portions of the coastline is critical to the welfare and viability of coastal societies. Yet, the views of coastal communities do not always find expression in the policies and decision-making processes of many governments. This study aimed at assessing the community’s perceptions about the accessibility of the coastline in Ngqushwa local municipality (South Africa), to offer information critical in reshaping post-apartheid (after 1994) coastal policy, processes and sustainable well-being. The target audience of this study was the ordinary members of the community living in two coastal wards (11 and 12) of Ngqushwa local municipality (NLM). To contextualize the study, a literature review was conducted. Data were collected from key community members using a questionnaire survey. Document analysis and observation were used to validate the research findings. Certain variables of the results were correlated using a cross-tabulation technique. SPSS software was used for data analysis. In general, the results of the study show that although communities value the coast for recreational, spiritual and livelihood; however, there is dissatisfaction with the availability of services and accessibility to certain access points due to various factors. Three main factors identified as obstacles to coastal access were private properties, distance to the shoreline and financial constraints. The conclusions call for multiple interventions such as improving community involvement, addressing accessibility, capacity building and improvement of socio-economic aspects. The findings of this perception survey are crucial in adding to the growing empirical studies about perceptions and guiding associated policies and processes to include community views.

The role of stakeholder engagement in sustainable water resource management in South Africa

AbstractThe effort to promote participation in decision and policy making, as well as programmes in water management is designed to give everyone who has a stake an opportunity to express an opinion or a preference. Although stakeholder engagements are welcomed initiatives, which lead to public participation, they are often embraced in ideological strife and political propaganda. Nevertheless, stakeholder engagement and participation are prerequisites for any innovative sustainable system of water resource management in post‐independence South Africa. Additionally, stakeholder engagement is an essential component of reforms and a bedrock in developing comprehensive pieces of legislation and policies for sustainable water resource management. It has been a legal requirement for adopting environmental legislation, such as the National Environmental Management Act of 1998, the 1996 Constitution, the National Water Act and the legal instrument for its implementation— the National Water Resource Strategy. In spite of these legislative requirements, the country is yet to realize an inclusive and practical way to engage stakeholders in the water management at the local level. This paper explores the structural and systematic constraints that hinder effective participation of stakeholders in water management. A purposive sampling technique to survey 60 participants from the water sector is used in the study. The findings identified lack of community empowerment and capacity building, inconsistencies in regard to roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and apathy towards public engagements as fundamental barriers to their effective participation. It is observed that unless efforts are made to enable marginal voices to be raised and heard, claims to inclusiveness and transformation in the water sector will remain only a theory.

Tackling the mangrove restoration challenge.

Mangroves have been converted and degraded for decades. Rates of loss have declined over the past decades, but achieving resilient coastlines requires both conservation and restoration. Here, we outline the challenges for the global restoration of mangroves and what actions could enhance restoration. Ambitious global targets for mangrove restoration, if successful, could deliver global benefits of carbon sequestration, fisheries production, biodiversity, and coastal protection. However, large-scale mangrove planting efforts have often failed, and smaller projects may not deliver landscape-scale benefits, even though they are more suited to community management. Solutions to achieving global targets include reducing risks of large projects and increasing the uptake and effectiveness of smaller projects. Sustainable mangrove restoration requires investment in capacity building in communities and institutions, and mechanisms to match restoration opportunities with prospective supporters and investors. Global reporting standards will support adaptive management and help fully understand and monitor the benefits of mangrove restoration.

The importance of investing in policies beyond ‘the basics': Perspectives from black fathers in Philadelphia on how to increase community safety

The police killings of unarmed Black men and women, particularly in the year 2020, fueled a moral outcry for defunding the police. The defund movement asserts that divested police funds should be invested in communities most devastated by hyper-policing. However, decisions on which community services to finance are often void of community input. To fill this gap, the current study highlights responses from 50 Black fathers living in southwest Philadelphia on community resources necessary for themselves and their children to live safe and prosperous lives. The men explained that, to enhance public safety and recover from the devastation of social stigmatization and marginalization, funds need to be invested in resources beyond the ‘basics' (i.e., housing, employment, health care). Specifically, the fathers wanted local educational and entrepreneurial opportunities that would allow community members to demonstrate their full potential. The current study informs policymakers on the importance of building community capacity rather than focusing solely on service delivery.

Municipal community centers as healthy settings: evaluation of a real-world health promotion intervention in Jerusalem

BackgroundThis study presents an intervention designed to foster the implementation of health promotion programs within District Municipality Community Centers (DMCCs) in Jerusalem, and the creation of a peer network of healthy settings with a shared aspiration of collaborating and implementing health-promoting policies at the community level. We also present the evaluation strategy, based on the EQUIHP and RE-AIM frameworks.MethodsTwenty DMCCs completed our program. This evaluation research involved a comprehensive seminar during the first year for DMCCs coordinators, teaching them the principles of health promotion. An educational kit was distributed during the second year. The evaluation strategy included a process evaluation and annual evaluations based on the EQUIHP and RE-AIM frameworks. The EQUIHP tool was divided into four dimensions of evaluation: 1) Framework of health promotion principles, 2) Project development and implementation, 3) Project management, and 4) Sustainability; while the RE-AIM domains included: 1)Reach, 2)Effectiveness, 3)Adoption, 4)Implementation and 5)Maintenance.ResultsThe program led to high responsiveness among DMCCs and to the implementation of diverse health promotion initiatives, with a participation of approximately 29,191 residents. The EQUIHP evaluation showed an improvement in program quality in Year 2. The final RE-AIM evaluation presented a total median score of 0.61 for all domains, where 0 was non-performance and 1.0 was full performance. The ‘Framework of health promotion principles’ and ‘Reach’ components received the highest median score (0.83, 1.0 and 0.87), while the ‘Sustainability and ‘Maintenance’ components received the lowest (0.5).ConclusionsThis innovative program adapts the Healthy Cities approach (initiated by the World Health Organization in 1986) to the development of community center health-promoting settings within the larger municipal framework, training local community center staff members to assess and address local health concerns and build community capacity. The local focus and efforts may help community actors to create health promotion programs more likely to be adopted, feasible in the ‘real-world’ and able to produce public health impact in the communities where people live. Moreover, collaboration and cooperation among DMCCs may lead to a broader community health vision, forging coalitions that can advocate more powerfully for health promotion.Trial registrationNIH trial registration number: NCT04470960.Retrospectively registered on: 14/07/2020.

PENINGKATAN KAPASITAS MASYARAKAT MELALUI PROGRAM DESA/ KELURAHAN TANGGUH BENCANA (DESTANA) DI KELURAHAN BUJEL KECAMATAN MOJOROTO KOTA KEDIRI

Bujel Village which is located in Mojoroto District in Kediri City is one of the villages affected by the flood. Geographically, the area of Kediri City which is located between 2 mountains and crossed by the Brantas River has the potential to be affected by the flood disaster. This community capacity building activity through the Disaster Resilient Village program aims to increase the capacity and resilience of the apparatus and community of Bujel Village in dealing with disasters. The method used is a participatory survey method, lectures, discussions, direct practice, observation, community assistance, pretest, posttest and evaluation. The results obtained that there are many benefits from this community capacity building activity and an increase in the score between pretest and posttest with an initial average of 55.75 to 77.5. An increase in score of 21.75.

‘Participation—with what money and whose time?’ An intersectional feminist analysis of community participation

Abstract The paper presents the results of community-based participatory action research that evaluated the quality and extent of resident participation in community development projects initiated by a network of non-profit and public agencies in a lower-income, racialized neighbourhood in Toronto. The paper examines dynamics of community engagement and volunteer participation in relation to the socio-political context of neoliberal urban development within which they unfold. Against this backdrop, the paper discusses processes of normalization and the mainstreaming of a technocratic or instrumental approach to community engagement. The paper argues how this instrumental approach extracts volunteer participation from residents to meet short-term organizational targets while offering no genuine opportunity for residents to co-create long-term, meaningful solutions to community needs and priorities. Such short-term, ‘band-aid’ community engagement and capacity building projects contribute to a crisis of trust between residents and the non-profit agencies. The paper presents a community engagement continuum mapping indicators for technocratic and extractivist community engagement in contrast to indicators for transformative and empowering processes.