title: Access to resources for substance users in Harlem, New York City: service provider and client perspectives.
abstract: The Urban Research Center (URC) in Harlem, New York City, is a collaboration of community members, service providers, and academics. A Community Advisory Board (CAB) meets regularly to formulate priorities for action and to direct research. A conceptual model of social determinants of health relevant to the Harlem community was developed. Early meetings of the CAB identified substance use as a health concern in the Harlem community. Access to social services was identified as a key social determinant that should guide research and intervention efforts of the URC. Surveys of service providers and of substance users were carried out to quantify availability of information and barriers to access. This article discusses the CAB process that led to the model of social determinants, development of surveys, and interpretation of results. The authors also discuss survey results and how the URC will use these results to develop interventions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York 10029-5293, USA. sgalea@nyam.org
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.forename: Stephanie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Factor
authors.forename: Ann-Gel
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canales
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*