African American Health Initiative Planning Project: A Social Ecological Approach Utilizing Community-Based Participatory Research Methods

Abstract

Much of the scientific literature in the area of health continues to ask the question, “How can we get African Americans involved in research and prevention activities?” The African American Health Initiative represents an answer to this question and is in many ways a success story of a local Black population that willingly engaged in health planning through a community-based participatory research process. A mixed-method sequential exploratory design was utilized to implement the health planning process. A social ecological model was created with five levels of influence and was utilized as a guide for engagement. A total of 1,078 individuals (95% Black) participated. A comprehensive plan was created with nine recommendations for the improvement of the health of the local and neighboring Black populations.