The Role of Health Policies in Faith-based Institutions in Promoting Health and Changing Food Practices: The Philadelphia Ujima Experience.

BACKGROUND: The Philadelphia Ujima Health Collaborative uses a community-based participatory research framework to address nutrition in underserved communities. Participation in individual-level focused health promotion activities motivated two faith-based partners to develop wellness policies to better inform their health promoting practices, specifically around food served at church events. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effectiveness of church-based policies in influencing 1) organizational practices regarding food and beverages served and sold and 2) individual attitudes and practices toward healthy eating. METHODS: Congregants completed questionnaires assessing their knowledge and awareness of the policy as well as observed changes in institutional and personal practices. Additionally key informant interviews were conducted with ministry leaders and members. RESULTS: As a result of the wellness policies developed, sites increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and water at events. Institutional barriers and lessons learned were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Effective community-academic partnerships using community participatory approaches with a health in all policies focus can improve health behaviors in diverse and underserved communities and engage them to play an active role in health promotion.

Promoting Policy Development through Community Participatory Approaches to Health Promotion: The Philadelphia Ujima Experience.

BACKGROUND: The Philadelphia Ujima Coalition for a Healthier Community (Philadelphia Ujima) promotes health improvement of girls, women, and their families using a gender framework and community-based participatory research approach to addressing gender-based disparities. Institutional policies developed through community-based participatory research approaches are integral to sustaining gender-integrated health-promotion programs and necessary for reducing gender health inequities. This paper describes the results of a policy analysis of the Philadelphia Ujima coalition partner sites and highlights two case studies. METHODS: The policy analysis used a document review and key informant interview transcripts to explore 1) processes that community, faith, and academic organizations engaged in a community participatory process used to develop policies or institutional changes, 2) types of policy changes developed, and 3) initial outcomes and impact of the policy changes on the target population. RESULTS: Fifteen policies were developed as a result of the funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. Policy changes included 1) healthy food options guidance, 2) leadership training on sexual and relationship violence, and 3) curricula and programming inclusion and expansion of a sex and gender focus in high school and medical school. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational practice changes and policies can be activated through individual-level interventions using a community participatory approach. This approach empowers communities to play an integral role in creating health-promoting policies.