A partnered approach for structured observation to assess the environment of a neighborhood with high diabetes rates.

Background: The Communities IMPACT Diabetes Center uses partnered methods to address diabetes-related conditions among African Americans and Latinos in East Harlem, New York.

Objectives: To describe a novel, partnered approach that integrates simultaneous structured observation by community and academic partners with "on-the-spot" resolution of differences to collect baseline data regarding the built and food environments in a two census tract area of East Harlem and present select findings.

Methods: We designed an environmental assessment to explore characteristics of the environment related to walking and eating.