Implementing Community-Based Health Interventions

Community-based health interventions may start at a grassroots level or may be initiated by government or nonprofit agencies. In 2020, for example, neighbors in Jackson, Michigan banded together to form Residents in Action, a nonprofit organization that connects unhoused people in the community with medical care and shelter.¹ In 2024, the Shelby County Health Department organized a community health fair in Memphis, Tennessee. Attendees received free HIV testing, vaccinations, tobacco prevention education, and other services.²

These programs are examples of community-based health interventions that provide medical, mental health, social services, and advocacy based on residents’ needs. Community health programs offer many benefits, including disease prevention and improved health outcomes.³

This article explores effective strategies and best practices for implementing community-based health interventions.

According to the International Encyclopedia of Public Health, community-based interventions “combine individual and environmental change strategies across multiple settings aiming to prevent dysfunction and to promote well-being among population groups in a defined local community.”⁴

These programs often work to reduce health disparities for underserved community groups. For example, they may provide support services for people with mental illnesses or children from socially disadvantaged families, two groups that often lack access to healthcare providers and resources.⁵

Effective community health programs offer many advantages in addressing public health challenges, including:⁶

• Improved health behaviors 
• Better patient outcomes 
• Increased access to preventative and specialized care 
• Expanded community access to non-clinical services  

Community health promotion addresses a broad range of public health challenges. For example, organizations may create educational programs to teach community members about healthy eating and nutrition or encourage physical activity. These health promotion programs may also help prevent or manage chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.⁷

Healthcare providers and organizations use many strategies to promote community health, including:⁷

• Health-related websites 
• Health screenings 
• Preventative health services 
• Lifestyle modification programs

To succeed, these programs rely on community involvement. Program administrators can increase engagement by building relationships with leaders of community organizations and informal leaders in the community. They should also research the community's culture, history, and norms and use this information to create programs grounded in the community context. Finally, community health programs should recognize patients' agency and encourage them to participate in decision-making.⁸

Successful intervention strategies don't have to be created entirely from scratch. Organizers can also study community health success stories and adapt their strategies. For example, the Diabetes Association of Atlanta offers self-management courses and preventative screening. These services have been shown to improve the physical, mental, and financial health of Atlanta residents with diabetes.⁹
 

Community-based public health programs can use various health education strategies to enhance their client population’s well-being. Health fairs can be used to teach about health care and health-related issues, including topics ranging from tobacco use to food preparation or air quality and its relation to chronic diseases. A variation on the health fair approach is to offer in-person or virtual seminars and workshops related to healthcare.¹⁰

Programs can also use media and technology to share health education messages with populations.¹¹ For example, a social media campaign can convey health information with colorful infographics and descriptive captions. Another benefit of this approach is that mobile apps allow community members to access health information from anywhere.

Whatever the delivery method, effective health education programs tailor messages for specific community groups. This process may involve translating materials into multiple languages to accommodate people from diverse cultures. Organizers should take care to use accessible formats, such as videos with captions or brochures with large print. Finally, to be effective, health messages should resonate with the target audience’s experiences and values.¹¹

The steps listed here can help create effective community outreach initiatives to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.¹²

• Assess needs: Collect data about the community’s existing assets and healthcare needs
• Engage stakeholders: Build relationships with community leaders and partners, such as local politicians and youth organizations 
• Set goals: Establish clear, measurable, and realistic goals for your community outreach program 
• Allocate resources: Decide how to use financial and human resources for the most impact 

Within this framework, organizers can use many tactics to design and implement their outreach programs. For example, they can attend community meetings and visit homes to assess needs, engage stakeholders and share educational materials. Another approach could be to partner with local organizations, such as schools, religious groups or other organizations.

In addition to establishing measurable goals, the plan should also address how to monitor the performance of their outreach programs. For example, this could involve tracking behavioral changes, engagement levels, and health outcomes.¹³ Continuously monitoring this data helps organizers evaluate the impact of their initiatives and make adjustments to improve effectiveness.

Whether they are focused on patient education, disease prevention, physical activity, or another effort to promote health, successful community-based health interventions are based on three guiding principles:

• Build coalitions: Collaborate with community groups and healthcare providers to share knowledge and resources¹⁴ 
• Gain cultural competence: Respect different cultural beliefs and provide a welcoming environment for people from diverse backgrounds¹⁵
• Work for the future: Develop a sustainable health intervention by securing funding from diverse sources and building local capacity¹⁶  

Gain the expertise to design and manage impactful community-based health interventions with Kent State’s online Master of Public Health program. Develop the practical skills and knowledge needed to address public health challenges effectively in the flexible online program designed for working professionals. Schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor today to learn more and start your journey toward making a positive, sustainable difference in health outcomes at the community level or beyond.