Prevention Science, Community Empowerment and Social Justice in Achieving Stronger, Healthier Communities

Sustainable improvements in health and well-being depend not only on the dissemination of effective interventions, but also on communities having the capacity and power to shape the conditions that influence their lives. In this article, we discuss how a systematic “domains” approach can be used to operationalize empowerment-oriented interventions that view communities as active agents of change. This approach strengthens communities’ capacity to take ownership of their health and to co-produce changes based on their needs. We also explain how prevention researchers and practitioners can benefit from key dimensions of capacity building, participation, and social justice. These dimensions can help address the social determinants of health and enable disadvantaged and vulnerable communities to resist dominant, top-down structures through collective organization and action, thereby fostering stronger and healthier communities. Prevention scientists who incorporate empowerment-oriented processes into the communities with which they work are well positioned to support collaborative efforts that promote empowerment, equity, and healthier communities. This approach can enhance the relevance, sustainability, and equity of prevention initiatives.