UAB Project EXPORT
Community Outreach Program

Great progress has been made on the research of factors associated with health disparities in the past few years; however, further work is necessary with regard to the translation of research to practice. Community-based programs must be a cornerstone of any effort attempting to remedy health disparities. Partnerships between academic research settings, community-based organizations, and the community-at-large have been shown to have a great impact in terms of behavior change, and it represents a great venue to disseminate health promotion and disease prevention programs among hard-to-reach populations. The Community Outreach Core uses a culturally sensitive, community-based participatory approach, guided by the Empowerment Model proposed by Paulo Freire (SEE: PowerPoint presentation on Community Based Participatory Research). The premise of the Empowerment model is that before community members address particular social change goals introduced from the outside, they must first be organized and empowered to address their own concerns and goals. It begins with a true dialogue in which everyone participates equally to identify common problems and solutions. Once the individual strengths and the shared responsibilities are identified, the group can work together toward a common goal – “participatory process.” As such, The Community Outreach Core of Project EXPORT (COC) in partnership with The Center for Urban Missions (a faith-based organization) established a coalition, promoted capacity building, explored culturally-relevant data-driven strategies for reducing health disparities, and developed a Community Action Plan with the ultimate goal of reducing diabetes and colorectal cancer health disparities between African Americans and whites in Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Healthy Congregations Healthy Communities Coalition was established in 2004 with the primary purpose of addressing diabetes and colorectal cancer disparities between African Americans and whites in Jefferson County. The Coalition is composed of a group of volunteers representing different sectors in our community (e.g., education, health care system, media, government, social service agencies, private business, etc.).

The first task of the Coalition was to identify the problems/barriers and potential solutions to health care for African Americans in Jefferson County. The problems identified were 1) behavioral/cultural factors, 2) lack of knowledge/education which leads to unhealthy lifestyles and not seeking care, and 3) lack of resources/access to preventive and curative care. Two potential solutions were identified: a resource booklet and a spiritually based holistic well-being program to be implemented in local congregations by Congregational Health Leaders. The Coalition compiled health care resources into a booklet titled the Community Outreach Resource Booklet on Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Colorectal Cancer—Jefferson County. This booklet lists contact and service information about community resources that may help in reducing health disparities between African Americans and whites.

The second solution to reduce/eliminate health disparities between African Americans and whites in Jefferson County was to develop a spiritually-based health curriculum that was culturally relevant to the needs of African Americans with the purpose of a) capacitating (train and empower) church leaders to be a resource to church members in the prevention and management of diabetes and colorectal cancer (dissemination of health information); and b) facilitate health care access among congregation members. The curriculum was written by members of the Coalition and was pilot-tested among 20 volunteer Congregational Health Leaders within four predominantly African American churches in the zip code areas of 35203, 35207, 35211 and 35212. These zip codes were selected after reviewing 2000 census data for Jefferson County that indicated the highest percentage of African American residents in the County and lowest educational and/or economic levels compared to national averages among residents in these zip codes. A Church Involvement Criteria Questionnaire was developed by the Coalition’s Spiritual Committee, and twenty-two predominantly African American churches were identified in the targeted zip codes. Pastors from these churches were invited to a luncheon to garner information about the program. The luncheon featured a special presentation and passionate call for action from Alabama Congressman Artur Davis. Pastors who attended the luncheon and expressed interest in the program were given the Church Involvement Criteria Questionnaire. After reviewing the questionnaire, four churches met the criteria and agreed to participate in the pilot test of the Healthy Congregations Healthy Communities Training Program. These churches were New City Church, New Hope Baptist Church (both in West End and North Birmingham), New Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Sardis Baptist Church. The 16-hour Healthy Congregations Healthy Communities Training Program began in the fall of 2005 with 20 enthusiastic Congregational Health Leader volunteers from the participating churches. Pastors from each of the churches agreed to lend their support to the Healthy Congregations Healthy Communities Program by incorporating health messages in their church sermons at least monthly, support the activities of the Congregational Health Leaders and by actively being involved in at least 2 health-related events in their church per year. The Congregational Health Leaders have chosen to use the knowledge and skills obtained in the training program to address issues related to the prevention and management of diabetes, colorectal cancer and obesity in their churches and community. Measurable plans of action to address these issues will be implemented by the Congregational Health Leaders in 2006.

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UAB Project EXPORTCommunity Outreach Program

UAB Project EXPORT
Community Outreach Program