Yalanda Barner’s scientific contributions

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have often been at the forefront of emerging movements and social changes. Continuing this tradition Jackson State University has developed Community Resilience Project to address community issues relevant to both the city and the state. The first undertaking of the Community Resilience Project was partnering with the National Weather Service (NWS and several departments across Jackson State University (JSU) to examine awareness and preparedness about weather emergencies. In June 2020, the Community Resilience Project hosted a town hall to gauge residents’ awareness about weather emergencies. Tornados, hurricanes, and floods are common in Mississippi; therefore, individuals must be prepared. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze demographics to develop themes regarding weather emergencies. The participants were 87 Mississippi residents. Participants were issued the demographic survey before the town hall. Frequency analyses were conducted on the responses found several themes. Most respondents, 59.8%, feel prepared for a weather emergency, however, 51.7% denied having an emergency preparedness plan. Participants were also asked do they felt prepared for an emergency since the pandemic began. Most respondents reported the same or increased levels of preparedness. Findings showcase the importance of not only the Community Resilience Project but also the need for community collaborations. The strength of a community is quantified by its ability to build and maintain bonds for all its citizens' well-being and advancement. Jackson State’s Community Resilience Project has taken an inimitable role in providing services, resources, and support to its local and state communities.

Introduction: The Mississippi Delta is the most rural and economically disadvantaged in the United States. Rural communities face challenges in accessing quality healthcare for chronic illnesses and diseases. Engaging community members in identifying and addressing community health issues necessary to address chronic diseases and other structural barriers is vital to assisting the community with needed resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the health needs and barriers to services in a rural community, in Mississippi Delta, to improve health outcomes. Methods: The study used a grounded theory qualitative design. A purposive sample of twenty residents participated in face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews (n=5) or focus group discussions with key stakeholders (n=2). Data collection focused on the community’s perceptions of health and the resources available to the community. The data from focus group discussions and interviews were transcribed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings indicated that stakeholders and residents acknowledged many of the same chronic diseases as in the nation, barriers to access to care as being accentuated and governmental policies not being a priority for this region. Participants identified hypertension, diabetes, mental health, and cancer as the most prevalent diseases. Structural barriers included little access to quality foods and a lack of economic development. Affordable healthcare and smoke-free policies were identified as policies that were impacting community health. Discussion: Participants' issues directly aligned with data regarding the health of the rural Mississippi Delta. Strategies to improve health outcomes in rural communities that emerged included: (1) improvement and practice of healthy habits, (2) provision of more healthcare facilities, (3) increase in access to quality of foods, and (4) increase in reliable transportation for the elderly population. To move research to action, it is necessary to engage community members directly and collaboratively in developing these strategies to address health disparities and other structural barriers that rural communities face regarding health and healthcare. Take-home message: Resource-poor communities like the Mississippi Delta region can benefit from community participation advocacy, improving healthcare, increasing food security, and enhancing access to healthy lifestyles. Need assessment in such settings can be done through qualitative methods that entail focus group discussions and interviews followed by grounded theory data analysis. Keywords: Access to care; healthcare; health needs; rural health; structural barriers