From August 2021, National Health Foundation (NHF) partnered with the Community Resource Centers in El Monte and Wilmington to reduce health inequities through a multi-pronged approach.
First, NHF developed a research plan and analyzed results to create a Community Profile. This analysis included three distinct community engagement and research components:
- Local stakeholder and decision-maker interviews and surveys,
- Community canvassing,
- Focus groups with local community members.
After community data collection and analysis were complete, the top three community health barriers were identified as well as local strengths and existing resources.
Using the Community Profiles, NHF recruited community members and developed Community Leader Groups (CLG) at each center.
Community engagement was essential to fill these leader groups with residents who were passionate about their community and wanted to advance their capacity building skills.
Recruitment and local engagement was done through various outlets:
- Community hubs such as libraries, senior centers, and schools;
- Community events and resource fairs;
- LA Care classes and events;
- Local Facebook groups and networking channels.
Through these interactions, residents were invited to the CRCs to receive health care support and participate in wellness classes that were accessible to them at no cost right in their community. A robust contact list of community members was collected while conducting community canvassing events and focus groups which would be used for recruitment as well.
The outcome was a group of engaged and mobilized residents who were ready and eager to tackle the top identified issues and barriers within their community.