Office of Public Health Practice

Newsletter

What is CBPH?

“Community lies at the heart of public health”

--National Policy Task Force, Community-Based Public Health statement, 1996

The University of Michigan School of Public Health is recognized as a national leader in the movement to develop public health partnerships to strengthen public health research, teaching and practice.  CBPH develops and utilizes the power of equal partnerships between community-based organizations (CBOs), academic institutions, and health agencies to address health issues of communities.  CBPH emphasizes the full engagement and participation of communities in the selection, design and implementation of public health related activities.

Housed in the Kellogg-funded "Community Crossroads" in SPH I, CBPH develops and facilitates projects and activities linking UM SPH students and faculty with CBOs, health departments, and other health related organizations throughout Michigan. 

Key characteristics of CBPH research, learning and practice:

1. Emphasis on the local relevance of public health problems
2. Recognition of the changing nature and complexity of public health problems which often involve the combined impact of the economic, cultural and psychosocial factors influencing health status and health behavior
3. Translation of knowledge in ways that promote change beneficial to communities through public health education, students through community service learning and the field of public health through community engaged coursework and interventions
4. Enhancements of capacities that already exist within communities
5. Development of partnerships with multi-disciplinary agencies, health care practitioners and community-based organizations in order to effectively study and make meaningful progress addressing the public health needs of communities.

Student Opportunities
CBPH provides opportunities for students to become engaged with community-academic partnerships through the following activities:

Community service learning
Volunteer opportunities
Internships 
CBPH Database

Faculty Opportunities
CBPH provides opportunities for faculty to become engaged with community-academic partnerships through the following activities:

Mini-grant Applications - for academic course development and revision to include CBPH and/or diversity competencies.

Supplemental Funding Applications - for inclusion of CBPH partners and concepts in courses.
 
Contact Information
For more information on how to become involved with CBPH, contact
cbphprogram@umich.edu
734-936-5333

University of Michigan School of Public Health
2675 SPH Crossroads
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029