title: Improving health services for residents through community-based participatory research: a public housing leadership perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In response to feedback from a health forum, resident leaders of public housing in Washington, DC, were inspired to create a health survey for and by the residents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The survey was designed to document residents' concerns about health, health care, and environmental threats. It also explored tobacco use and support for smoke-free housing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A newly created Health Planning Committee of the Citywide Advisory Board, including residents, academics, and representatives of health and housing organizations, facilitated the creation of a health needs assessment. Questionnaires were initially mailed, then hand-delivered to every public housing household. More than 1,000 completed questionnaires have now been returned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project highlights a model that places resident leaders in charge of health issues, including leading advocacy efforts for policies to reduce health disparities in public housing. It identifies research challenges and ways to overcome them and empowers the community for continued research.
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Council
authors.forename: Julian C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: B Michelle
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Benika
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Enyinnaya
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merengwa
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nwazue
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weaks
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D004219:District of Columbia; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011638:Public Housing; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires