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Title: LESSONS LEARNED FROM ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITIES

Author
item STRICKLAND, E - DELTA NIRI
item McCabe Sellers, Beverly
item Bogle, Margaret
item HYMAN, E - DELTA NIRI
item McGee, Bernestine
item Yadrick, Kathy
item CASEY, P - DELTA NIRI
item SIMPSON, P - DELTA NIRI
item CHAMPAGNE, C - DELTA NIRI
item SANTELL, R - DELTA NIRI

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2004
Publication Date: 6/10/2004
Citation: Strickland, E., McCabe-Sellers, B., Bogle, M., Hyman, E., McGee, B., Yadrick, K., Casey, P., Simpson, P., Champagne, C., Santell, R. 2004. Lessons learned from establishing community partnerships in rural Mississippi Delta communities [abstract]. Third Annual Conference of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. p. 36.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Purpose: To demonstrate how the Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (Delta NIRI) uses a participatory approach in working with rural communities to gain their buy-in and cooperation in developing nutrition and health promotion interventions. The study demonstrates how strategies are combined and used to successfully enhance community involvement, participation, and outcomes, through cooperative relationships among academic researchers, USDA,ARS, and local communities. Local NIRIs have felt empowered and willing to identify their needs, to set priorities for interventions, and to evaluate outcomes. Methods: Delta NIRI is a consortium that involves six universities (two each in AR, LA, and MS), USDA-ARS, and one community in each of the three states. This consortium has developed a model for conducting community based participatory intervention research that targets full involvement of the community at all levels of the process. Results: Issues were identified that related to different levels of trust, cooperation, readiness and participation within these rural communities and the universities. Conclusion: The regular presence of the universities in the community activities and a willingness to include different sectors of the community in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluation are factors that enhanced and strengthened the interventions to ultimately produce sustainability in the community. Supported by USDA, ARS Project #6251-53000-003-00D.