# Presentation: 632128

## Every Block A Village Online: A Technology-based Health Intervention

- Christopher Masi, MD
- West Suburban Hospital
- Oak Park, IL

## Chicago Community Areas

##         Austin and Oak Park

## Slide 4

## 1990 Demographics

## 1990 Socioeconomic Indicators

## Causes of Death

## Every Block A Village

- Westside Health Authority
- A community strengthening initiative
- Citizen Leader on each block in Beat 1524
- Leaders meet every month
- 	to discuss ways to improve the community and address common concerns

*“**It takes a village to raise a child” *

## Concerns Identified by Community Leaders and Residents

- Access to Health Care
- Combating Crime and Increasing Safety
- Eliminating Drugs in the Neighborhood
- Improving City Services
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

- Identifying Resources for Special Needs Children
- Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
- Improving Physical Space
- Economic Development
- Youth Activities

## Internet access (WebTV) for block leaders &  in public sites (schools, parks, other).
Home page with local information & topics of interest to community, based on focus group input.
E-mail.
Local health content & “Ask-A-Doc.”
Monthly crime mapping.
Technology training and trouble shooting assistance.
Sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) and WSH.

- Home page with local information & topics of interest to community, based on focus group input.
- E-mail.
- Local health content & “Ask-A-Doc.”
- Monthly crime mapping.
- Technology training and trouble shooting assistance.
- Sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) and WSH.

- EBV Online Intervention

## EBV Online Goals

- Enhance Resident Communication and Access to Information
- Improve Health and Safety
- Increase Sense of Community and Empowerment

## WebTV Locations

- 47 citizen leaders
- Yellow stars: pilot group
- Red stars (year 1)
- Green stars (year 2)
- 10 community sites
- Large stars are community sites

## Slide 13

## Slide 14

## The Ask A Doc Program

## WebTV Internet Access

## Types of E-mail Announcements

**%**

## Health-related E-mail Announcements

- Local health resources, mobile pediatric clinic schedule, drug & alcohol treatment information.
- Walgreen’s pharmacy available online for medication info.
- Information about free medical assistance and check-ups.
- Training available to men and women who want to become fitness instructors.
- “Several of our neighbors are ill. Please remember them in your prayers.”
- Free eye examinations through Vision USA, a national nonprofit program that matches low-income children and adults with optometrists in their communities. Application information provided.

## Success Stories

- “I used the WebTV to reach the mayor’s office and city services information to get an abandoned trailer off the block”...
-  “I contacted the police department and streets and sanitation via their websites; both responded”.
- “I’m taking a bible class and needed material ... I felt proud using the Internet!”.
- “I used the Internet to prepare for a health fair I am organizing”.
- A leader asked about grandparenting information. The state had produced a brochure that was not on the web. Through EBV Online, the brochure is now available online and is being distributed locally and statewide at http://www.ebvonline.org/Grandparent/index.html.

## Ask-A-Doc Examples

- Q: What are the long term effects of smoking?
- Q: Who decides to turn off the breathing machine?
- Q: I’m pregnant and I am bleeding.  What should I do?
- Q: Where can I get information about Ritalin?
- Q: My doctor says my liver enzymes are high.  What does that mean?

## EBV Online

- 1524

- 1511

- 1531

**EBV Online**
**Target Area**
**and Adjacent**
**Beats**

**15****th**** District**

## ICAM Crime Maps

-  Total: 88 Crimes in Beat 1524
- August 1 – August 14, 2001

- 32 Society Crimes
- -31 Narcotics
- -1 Liquor Violation

- 13 Person Crimes
- -2 Weapons
- -4 Assault
- -1 Robbery
- -2 Telephone Threats
- -4 Battery

- 27 Property Crimes
-  4 Auto theft
-  5 Damage
- 12 Theft
- 2 Burglary

- 13 Domestic Violence

- 3 Domestic Criminal
-    Damage

## Chicago Tribune, 8/19/01 

- Chicago Tribune, 8/19/01

## Annual Crimes per Block by Police Beat

## Sense of Community and Empowerment

**	****	****	****                      **
**	****	****	****   ****	****	****  ****	****	****	**** ****	****	****                              ****Block Leaders****	****Block Residents**
- 					               	            **Pre           Post            Pre              Post**
**Overall, I am very attracted to living      ****	**
**on this block.****	****	****	****	****       1.68****	****         1.56            2.15          1.88**
**I believe my neighbors would help me **
**in an emergency.****	****	****	****       1.68           1.28*          1.97         1.85**
**I have control over decisions that affect my**
**health and family’s health.****	****	****       1.56****	****          1.08*         1.85         1.82****	**
**I am satisfied with the amount of influence I**
**have over decisions that affect my block.            2.70****	****          2.12            2.50          2.70**
**I have a deep feeling of fellowship between **
**me and other people on my block.****	****           ****	****       1.72****	****          1.55            2.29          1.73***
**Living on this block gives me a sense ****	****       1.56****	****          1.44            2.15          2.11**
**of community.**
***p < .05 Sig. (2-tailed)**

## Births at WSH

|  | Beat 1524 | Beat 1524 | Beats 1511 & 1531 | Beats 1511 & 1531 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year | 1998/1999 | 2000 | 1998/1999 | 2000 |
| Number | 154 | 62 | 393 | 178 |
| Teen
Births % | 33.7 | 29.0 | 21.4 | 29.8 |
| Late/no prenatal care | 25.2 | 14.5 | 25.8 | 15.3 |
| < 37 weeks, % | 12.0 | 13.1 | 10.6 | 14.7 |
| <2,500 grams, % | 13.7 | 11.5 | 9.4 | 11.3 |

## Westside Health Authority Technology Center

- Funded by the IL Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs

## Community Technology Resources Tour and Awards Ceremony

## Next Steps

- Online Youth Newspaper at Westinghouse High School
- Funded by a City of Chicago Tech 37 grant
- Model is Harlem Live (_[www.harlemlive.org](http://www.harlemlive.org/)_)
-  Convert WebTV’s to PC’s with free or low cost Internet service
- Expand network of PC/Internet users in Beat 1524
- Monitor health and crime in Beat 1524 and surrounding Beats

##     Predicted Probability of Birth Weight Categories

-     Predicted Probability of Birth Weight Categories