Building a Healthier Future Together
Philly CEAL is not just a research project, it is a community-led initiative aimed at creating lasting change. By working closely with our partners and residents, the Community Advisory Coalition (CAC) ensures that the solutions we develop are not only effective but also sustainable for the long term.
Ongoing work
CAC Meeting Summaries
February 26, 2025
At the February 26, 2025, PhillyCEAL Community Advisory Coalition (CAC) meeting, members gathered to offer vital feedback on the citywide Resource Directory and Community Map—tools designed to expand access to essential services across Philadelphia for Community Health Workers (CHWs).
CAC members proposed several key enhancements to the resource directory, including new fields to capture waitlist/wait time data, a “Status” section to show whether an organization is currently active or has been defunded, and consistent documentation of eligibility requirements. The CAC also emphasized the need to include more reentry focused resources to better support individuals returning from incarceration.
The CAC also discussed several improvements to the map’s functionalities. These included adding a public transportation layer; integrating search, sort, and filter features; and creating a “gateway” tool to help users identify services based on their specific needs. For quality control, members advocated for prioritizing feedback from CAC members and CHWs over general online reviews, highlighting the value of trusted, community-based insights. They also discussed ways to include advocacy efforts. For example, members suggested highlighting elected officials and developing a companion advocacy toolkit to guide residents on where and how to effectively elevate community voices and drive change.
To improve the usefulness of the platform for CHWs and community organizations, members proposed quarterly updates along with a streamlined system for submitting new or revised resources. They also discussed hosting needs to ensure accessibility for CAC and CHWs. Naming the platform remains an open conversation, with ideas like “My Whole City” and “Citywide Resource Roundup” under consideration and plans to crowdsource additional suggestions. Lastly, members recommended including donation links on the public site and prioritizing accessibility and user-friendliness for all CHWs and community organizations in Philadelphia.
January 15, 2025
The Community Advisory Coalition (CAC) held meetings on December 12, 2024, and January 15, 2025, to address resource mapping and service accessibility across Philadelphia. The December meeting revealed clusters of resources in North, West, and Southwest Philadelphia, reflecting areas where many CAC members are active. However, it also highlighted significant resource gaps in South and Northeast Philadelphia. Participants emphasized the need for "boots on the ground" to connect community members to services through personal referrals. Capacity challenges in housing and utility assistance programs, exacerbated by long waitlists and strict eligibility criteria, were identified as major barriers. Members suggested leveraging the expertise of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and collaborating with small, grassroots organizations to strengthen connections to resources. The group also discussed reviving tools like the "Where to Turn" guide, last updated in 2022, and proposed creating a shared Google Document for members to independently add resources.
Building on these discussions, the January meeting focused on refining the resource map and addressing gaps in Northeast and Northwest Philadelphia, where gentrification has displaced low-income residents. Participants noted challenges in mapping organizations providing remote or multi-branch services and stressed the need for accurate representation. The group emphasized that simply distributing resource lists is insufficient without support for real-time verification, eligibility checks, and navigation assistance. The Connect4Health CHW program model was highlighted as a best practice, featuring real-time referral tracking, direct organizational connections, and follow-up systems to ensure responsiveness.
Both meetings showcased the potential of asset mapping as a tool for uncovering valuable resources, such as high-compensation job training opportunities in solar energy. Suggestions from participants included implementing a centralized system, like a universal application, to streamline access to services and ensure equitable resource distribution. Moving forward, the CAC aims to refine the resource map, prioritize underserved areas, and foster collaboration among service organizations to address gaps and barriers effectively. These discussions underscored the importance of innovation and community-driven solutions in ensuring equitable access to vital services.
October 16, 2024
The Community Advisory Coalition (CAC) discussed the forthcoming DECIDE+ (Decision-making Education for Choices in Diabetes Everyday) Intervention. Led by Dr. Carmen Alvarez, the meeting highlighted key objectives and challenges of the initiative, which focuses on improving health management through community-based strategies. Dr. Alvarez explained how the program's problem-solving training will address barriers like competing life demands, limited resources, socioeconomic status, and family obstacles, all of which hinder healthy behaviors such as dieting, exercise, medication adherence, and self-monitoring.
The DECIDE+ program will consist of a 9-session self-management curriculum delivered bi-weekly, with each session lasting 90 minutes. This format offers disease-specific education and problem-solving training that facilitates behavior change and optimal chronic disease management. Prior its launch, Community Health Workers (CHWs) will receive 22 hours of training. A full rollout of the program is anticipated in February 2025. Initially, the program will be implemented in English only, and by Year 3 of the program, the intervention is expected to include Spanish and Simple Chinese language options to cater to diverse communities in Philadelphia.
During small group discussions, coalition members identified critical barriers to effective health management within the community. For example, barriers to exercise include limited access to facilities, high gym costs, and poor transportation. Many people may also overlook everyday activities like brisk walking as counting toward exercise. Regarding medication adherence, challenges were linked to poor time management, concerns about side effects, and lack of support from caregivers. Maintaining a healthy diet also emerged as a challenge, primarily due to limited nutrition education and access to affordable fresh food, highlighting the need for greater awareness and better food access in underserved areas. Finally, self-monitoring of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes were noted to be complicated by medical fatigue, daily demands, and financial barriers such as high insurance co-pays and equipment costs.
To enhance program participation, CAC members emphasized hosting DECIDE+ training sessions in accessible community locations, such as recreation centers and town halls. They also suggested strengthening outreach and participant recruitment through partnerships with local organizations, labor unions, and grocery stores. Additionally, they recommended offering healthy meals during DECIDE+ sessions and providing giveaways as effective strategies for incentivizing participants and reinforcing healthy behaviors.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to tailoring the intervention to community needs and leveraging local resources to foster participation and long-term health improvements.
September 18, 2024
The Community Advisory Coalition (CAC) is a key partner in the Philadelphia Community Engagement Alliance (PhillyCEAL), bringing together community leaders, organizations, and public health experts to design initiatives that directly address the needs of local communities. With the expansion of the NIH grant for the next four years, PhillyCEAL is shifting its focus from COVID-19 to supporting the self-management of cardiovascular diseases. The CAC provides critical input on the development and implementation of programs aimed at reducing health disparities, with a particular emphasis on addressing social determinants of health and enhancing the Community Health Worker (CHW) program.
During the September 18 meeting, key updates were shared, and the future direction of the initiative was discussed. PhillyCEAL reflected on its progress since the project’s implementation, noting the success of Year 3. Over 644 racial and ethnic minority participants contributed to a survey, providing essential insights into the health needs of the community and awareness of the CHW program. These findings helped shape PhillyCEAL's plans for the next four years, with an expanded focus on CHW programming and a transition toward addressing cardiovascular disease.
A key highlight of the meeting was the introduction of the DECIDE Training program for diabetes management, which aims to enroll 500 residents in CHW-led sessions. This initiative, set to run in multiple cycles over the coming years, represents a transformative approach to diabetes care. By comparing various intervention methods and gathering real-time feedback from participants, PhillyCEAL will continually refine its strategies to better meet the evolving needs of the community.
Another critical discussion centered around the implementation of a Social Needs Assessment to identify and address unmet community needs. CAC members reviewed the tool and offered recommendations for improvement, such as addressing environmental and technological barriers, simplifying language for accessibility, and ensuring cultural sensitivity in discussing financial and social challenges. The CAC emphasized the need for practical outcomes, ensuring that the assessment leads to tangible support for residents. They also stressed the importance of offering incentives, such as compensation or access to resources, to encourage participation.
Looking ahead, the CAC outlined a comprehensive action plan that includes expanding CHW programming, finalizing the Social Needs Assessment, and strengthening partnerships with community organizations. The meeting concluded with a focus on collective action and long-term support, as both PhillyCEAL and the CAC remain committed to building a healthier, more equitable Philadelphia.