Working together

What can the PHH-PRC and the community do for each other? The work of the PHH-PRC is a two-way street.  The Center offers programs that residents can take part in and benefit from directly.  And the same programs often help residents in addition to those who went through the program.  At the same time, the Center’s researchers have the opportunity to do research to understand what makes programs work, and how to make them work better. 

For example, each year, the PHH-PRC trains about a dozen residents as community health workers in the public housing setting.  These trained residents are known as Resident Health Advocates, and they help fellow residents find the health care services they need.  Most RHAs are adults, but there is a special program that has trained a small number of teenagers in recent years.  The effectiveness of the RHA program has been evaluated by PHH-PRC researchers. 

In the same way, through the Knowledge is Power (KIP) program, residents learn to write a successful proposal to bring new services into a housing development.  These residents have gained a skill—and their fellow residents will benefit from the services. 

When PHH-PRC researchers publish a new research article, we create a reader-friendly version of the article.  These are designed to be read by residents or other members of the general public.  They are posted as PDF files.  These can be downloaded and printed out, or they can be opened and read on a computer screen.  Click here to find reader-friendly materials. 

Any resident of a family housing development can help the PHH-PRC in a very direct way.  When a representative of the Community Committee for Health Promotion (CCHP) knocks on your door, asking you to take part in the Flyer Information and Survey Project (FISP), say yes.  This is the door-to-door survey of residents’ health concerns that the CCHP does each year.  The CCHP shares the results with residents and then with the other PHH-PRC partners. You might also help the CCHP to conduct the survey in your own development.  Finally, when the Community Committee for Health Promotion is looking for new members, think about taking part.

News You Can Use

The National Campaign for Full Funding for Public Housing in the United States is petitioning members of Congress to include full funding in upcoming legislation. Go to this weblink to find the petition and add your signature: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/
fullfundingforpublichousing/

Recent publications from PHH-PRC investigators:

Scammell et al., “Meeting People Where They Are: Engaging Public Housing Residents for Integrated Pest Management.” Progress in Community Health Partnerships 2011:5(2).

Rorie et al., “Use of a Resident Health Advocate Model to Improve Public Health Van Screening and Follow-Up Among Public Housing Residents” (Prev Chronic Dis 2011; 8(1)).

Douyon et al., “The GirlStars Program: Challenges to Recruitment and Retention in a Physical Activity and Health Education Program for Adolescent Girls Living in Public Housing” (Prev Chronic Dis 2010; 7(2))