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Hindi Research Article
The Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Program
Kosoko-Lasaki O1*, Stone JR2, Smith J3, Brown RL3, Harris T3, Sanders R3, Jackson S4, Lassiter D5, McMorris K6, Issaka S7 and Klimowicz J31Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Creighton University, Nebraska, USA
2Department of Medicine, Center for Health Policy and Ethics, Creighton University, Nebraska, USA
3Creighton University, Nebraska, USA
4Department of Douglas County Health, Creighton University, Nebraska, USA
5Nebraska Center for Healthy Families Project, Doris Lassiter Consulting, LLC, USA
6Charles Drew Health Center, Omaha, USA
7Department for Family and Community Service, Omaha, USA
- *Corresponding Author:
- Kosoko-Lasaki O, MD
MSPH, MBA, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Tel: 402-280-2332
E-mail: skosoko@creighton.edu
Received date: June 07, 2017; Accepted date: June 15, 2017; Published date: June 19, 2017
Citation: Kosoko-Lasaki O, Stone JR, Smith J, Brown RL, Harris T, et al. (2017) The Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Program. J Community Med Health Educ 7:530. doi:10.4172/2161-0711.1000530
Copyright: © 2017 Kosoko-Lasaki O, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
African-Americans in Douglas County, Nebraska, experience above-average incidence of death and disability from chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease. Current screening and education services are independent and poorly available to minority citizens. Despite communities’ progress in addressing health disparities, barriers prevent effective and culturally-competent care. Addressing these inequalities requires new and innovative models like Creighton University’s Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (CPHHE-REACH) program. This collaborative partnership with community stakeholders in Douglas County, Nebraska addresses chronic disease disparities in Omaha African-Americans by increasing community opportunities for access to physical activities. The REACH strategy involves promoting and supporting changes in policy, systems and environment (PSE). The Omaha African-American community for REACH comprises some 50,000 people. REACH program settings include Omaha faith-based organizations (churches of diverse denominations), public housing towers, a federally qualified health center, and public middle schools’ after-school program. The Douglas County Health Department and Creighton University School of Medicine personnel are key partners that provide technical assistance through the Physical Activity Leadership Train-the- Trainer mechanism for Community Health Ambassadors (CHAs) and direct support for (PSE) improvements. Thirtytwo (32) program-certified CHAs support enhancing access to physical activity in the affiliated public housing towers, diverse faith-based organizations, the health center, and the after-school programs.
