Integrated Approach to Eliminating Health Disparities

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Engaging The Community in Health Education
Outreach
15th Annual Healthy Carolinians Conference
October 11, 2007 George G. Hill, Public Health
Consultant Office of Minority Health and Health
Disparities (OMHHD) North Carolina Department of
Health and Human Services
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National Institutes of Health

• Defines Disparities as
• The difference in the incidence, prevalence,
  mortality, and burden of disease and other
  adverse health conditions that exists among
  specific population groups in the United States
• National Institutes of Health, Addressing Health
  disparities The NIH program of Action. What
  are disparities.
• Available at httphealthdisparities.nih.gov/whata
  re.html.

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Health Disparities Defined ByNC Office of
Minority Health and Health Disparities

• A Working Definition
• Significant differences or inequalities in
• health that exist between whites and
• racial/ethnic minorities.

Source NC Office of Minority Health and Health
Disparities
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OMHHD MHAC

• Established in 1992 by House Bill 1340, Part
  24-Section 165-166
• 15 Member Minority Health Advisory Council
• Advise Governor Cabinet Secretary
• Influence Policy Legislation

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Our Mission

• To promote and advocate for the elimination of
  health disparities among all racial and ethnic
  minorities and other underserved populations in
  North Carolina.

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Our Vision
All North Carolinians will enjoy good health
regardless of their race/ethnicity, disability or
socioeconomic status
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Our Focus Areas

• Capacity Building (State Local)
• Research and Data
• Culture and Language
• Policy and Legislation
• Communications
• Partnership Development

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Office of Minority Health and Health
DisparitiesCall To Action ModelSource NC
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
2003
Equip Staff Volunteers
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Engage CommunitiesFor CHAP

• Identified Stakeholders Introduced
• Program Concept
• Conducted Community Needs Assessment
• Prioritized Addressed Their Felt Needs
• Participated in Community Activities

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One Strategy To Engage Communities Community
Health Ambassador Program

• Goal
• To Build the Capacity Of Communities to
• Prevent Illness and Prevent Complications
• Recognize Early Warning Signs
• Increase Access To Health and Human Services and
  Resources.

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Community Level Capacity Building (Organizations
)

• OMHHD
• Community Focused Eliminating Health Disparities
  Initiative
• 2million 2005 General Assembly
• Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
• Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Infant Mortality
• Homicide, Cancer, Motor Vehicle
• FBOs, CBOs, Tribes, LHDs
• Awareness/ Health Literacy
• Screening/ Early Detection
• Reduce Access Barriers
• Partnerships

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Community Level Capacity Building(Individuals)

• OMHHD
• Community Focused Eliminating Health Disparities
  Initiative
• Community Health Ambassador Program
• Recruit Train Community Leaders
• Partnership with ONSMS
• Approved Course Credits via NC Community College
  System

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Community Health Ambassador Program
Participants Are

• Trusted leaders
• Volunteers In Community
• Advocates not Experts
• Bridge Builders

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Community Health Ambassador Program Major
Components

• Curriculum 20 Classroom Hours
• Approved for 2.0 CEU s
• Focus Areas Diabetes, Cancer
• Requirements
• Resource Directory
• 100 Encounters in Year 1
• Sign MOA ( Healthy Lifestyles)
• Continuing Education Session (1/year)

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Community Health Ambassador Program Major
Components con t

• Stipend For Course Completion
• Active Partners
• Statewide Coordinator
• FBO s CBO s
• NC Community College System
• ONSMS
• Local Health Departments
• 3 Instructors

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Community Health Ambassador Program Major
Components

• Pilot in Spring 2006
• 34 Faith-Based Community Based Organizations
• Curriculum
• 11 Training Sessions Completed
• Course 20 Classroom Hours
• Focus Areas Diabetes, Cancer

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Community Health Ambassador Programs Outreach
2006- 2007
Camden
Northampton
Gates
Currituck
Alleghany
Rockingham
Ashe
Surry
Warren
Pasquotank
Stokes
Hertford
Caswell
Vance
Person
Halifax
Wilkes
Watauga
Perquimans
Granville
Yadkin
Bertie
Orange
Guilford
Forsyth
Mitchell
Wilson
Chowan
Avery
Durham 2
Yancey
Nash
Alamance
Caldwell
Alexander
Madison
Davie
Edgecombe
Washington
Dare
Martin
Iredell
Davidson
Wake
Tyrrell
Burke
Chatham
Buncombe
Catawba
Randolph
Rowan
Haywood
Pitt
Franklin
McDowell
Swain
Beaufort
Hyde
Lincoln
Johnston
Greene
Rutherford
Graham
Henderson
Cabarrus
Lee
Gaston
Jackson
Wayne
Harnett
Moore
Stanly
Lenoir
Polk
Cherokee
Cleveland
Macon
Montgomery
Transylvania
Craven
Pamlico
Mecklenburg
Clay
Sampson
Jones
Cumberland
Richmond
Anson
Hoke
Union
Duplin
Scotland
Carteret
Onslow
Robeson
Bladen
Pender
New Hanover
Columbus
Brunswick
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It is easier to raise a strong child than to
repair broken men -Frederick Douglass-
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On Behalf of the OMHHD Thank You for Being a
Partner in the Fight to Eliminate Health
Disparities!