title: Transforming the Cross Cultural Collaborative of Pierce County through assessment capacity building.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Underserved populations are underrepresented in public health initiatives such as tobacco control and in cancer clinical trials. Community involvement is crucial to interventions aimed at reducing health disparities, and local health departments increasingly are called upon to provide both leadership and funding. The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), in conjunction with 13 key community-based organizations and healthcare systems, formed the Cross Cultural Collaborative of Pierce County (CCC) that successfully employs needs-assessment and evaluation techniques to identify community health initiatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community leaders from six underserved populations of the CCC were trained in needs-assessments techniques. Assessments measured effectiveness of the collaborative process and community health initiatives by using key informant (n = 18) and group interviews (n = 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CCC, facilitated by its partnership with the TPCHD, built capacity and competence across community groups to successfully obtain two funded public health initiatives for six priority populations. Members expressed overall satisfaction with the training, organizational structure, and leadership. The CCC's diversity, cultural competency, and sharing of resources were viewed both as a strength and a decision-making challenge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public health department leadership, collaboration, and evidence-based assessment and evaluation were key to demonstrating effectiveness of the interventions, ensuring the CCC's sustainability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Center for Minority Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garza
authors.forename: Diane J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Abatemarco
authors.forename: Cindan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gizzi
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Abegglen
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson-Conley
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D014861:Washington