DETROIT, MI— Cardiovascular risk is significantly higher in some Detroit neighborhoods, including Northwest, Southwest and East Side Detroit, than state and national averages. Disparities in income, access to health care and safe places to be physically active make it more challenging for residents who live in these neighborhoods to address health concerns. Community Approaches to Cardiovascular Health – Dissemination (CATCH-D) is an extension of the Walk Your Heart to Health walking group intervention (WYHH) that the Healthy Environments Partnership (HEP) began in 2008. WYHH promoted heart health through leadership development, community action and policy advocacy in an effort to enhance neighborhood environments that support and sustain active living in Detroit. Part of this past intervention involved walking groups that met 3 times per week at community-based and faith-based organizations in three Detroit neighborhoods. Community Health Promoters led the walking groups and built leadership capacity among group members who gradually assumed leadership roles.

The Community-Based Public Health Caucus (CBPH Caucus) has received funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health to support “Enhancing Expertise of Community Partners to Promote Equity in Community-Based Participatory Research”, a full day Learning Institute offered on November 2, 2013 by the CBPH Caucus at the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Annual Meeting. 

The purpose of this APHA-LI course is to develop the knowledge and skills, as well as the peer relationships and support systems needed by community partners to reduce health disparities in their communities by participating as equal partners in Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This institute will be led by teams of community and academic experts.

Come voice your concerns regarding air pollution and hear what is being done in the community to reduce your exposure to harmful air pollutants. Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) will speak on air pollution in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Child activities, translation, transportation, and light refreshments will be provided.

This edition of the newsletter shares resources aimed at bringing new partners together to engage in collaborative health research in Detroit. Whether it be through learning opportunities, funding sources, research tools or community events, there is a variety of information to help you connect. - See more at: http://www.detroiturc.org/the-network/archived-newsletters.html#sthash.8nHv1b39.dpuf