15th Annual Healthy Carolinians Conference October 11, 2007

George G. Hill, Public Health ConsultantOffice of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHHD) North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

““Engaging The Community in Health Engaging The Community in Health Education & Outreach”Education & Outreach”

National Institutes of National Institutes of HealthHealth

Defines Disparities as…

““The difference in the incidence, The difference in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health disease and other adverse health conditions that exists among conditions that exists among specific population groups in the specific population groups in the United States”*United States”*

*National Institutes of Health, Addressing Health disparities: The NIH program of Action. What are disparities. *National Institutes of Health, Addressing Health disparities: The NIH program of Action. What are disparities. Available at http:healthdisparities.nih.gov/whatare.html.Available at http:healthdisparities.nih.gov/whatare.html.

Health Disparities Defined By

NC 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

OMHHD & MHAC OMHHD & MHAC

Established in 1992 by House Bill 1340, Established in 1992 by House Bill 1340, Part 24-Section 165-166Part 24-Section 165-166

15 Member Minority Health Advisory Council

– Advise Governor & Cabinet Secretary – Influence Policy & Legislation

Our Mission…Our Mission…

To promote and advocate for the To promote and advocate for the elimination of health disparities among elimination of health disparities among

all racial and ethnic minorities and other all racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations in North underserved populations in North

Carolina.Carolina.

Our VisionOur Vision

All North Carolinians will enjoy good health

regardless of their race/ethnicity, disability or socioeconomic status

Our Focus Areas…Our Focus Areas…

Capacity Building (State & Local)

Research and Data Research and Data Culture and Language Culture and Language Policy and Legislation Policy and Legislation CommunicationsCommunications Partnership DevelopmentPartnership Development

Source: NC Office of Minority Health anSource: NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparitiesd Health Disparities

Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities’Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities’

Call To Action ModelCall To Action ModelSource: NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities 2003 Source: NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities 2003

D ev e lo p P a rtn ersh ip s E n g a g e C o m m u n itie s In f lu en ce P o licy E q u ip th e D isp a r ityG a p C o o rd in a to r

In tegra ted A p p roach to E lim in atin g H ea lth D isp ar itiesEquip Staff &Volunteer

s

Engage CommunitiesEngage CommunitiesFor CHAPFor CHAP

Identified Stakeholders & Introduced Identified Stakeholders & Introduced Program ConceptProgram Concept

Conducted Community Needs Assessment Conducted Community Needs Assessment

Prioritized & Addressed Their Felt NeedsPrioritized & Addressed Their Felt Needs

Participated in Community ActivitiesParticipated in Community Activities

One Strategy To Engage Communities:

Community Health Ambassador ProgramCommunity Health Ambassador Program

Goal …

To Build the Capacity Of Communities to:To Build the Capacity Of Communities to:

Prevent Illness and Prevent ComplicationsPrevent Illness and Prevent Complications

Recognize Early Warning Signs Recognize Early Warning Signs

Increase Access To Health and Human Services and Increase Access To Health and Human Services and Resources.Resources.

OMHHDCommunity 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

Community Level Capacity BuildingCommunity Level Capacity Building(Organizations)(Organizations)

Community Level Capacity BuildingCommunity Level Capacity Building(Individuals)(Individuals)

OMHHDOMHHD

Community Focused Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative:

Community Health Ambassador ProgramCommunity Health Ambassador Program

Recruit & Train Community LeadersRecruit & Train Community Leaders

Partnership with ONSMSPartnership with ONSMS

Approved Course Credits via NC Community College Approved Course Credits via NC Community College SystemSystem

Community Health Ambassador Program Participants Are…Participants Are…

Trusted leadersTrusted leaders

Volunteers In Community Volunteers In Community

““Advocates” not Experts Advocates” not Experts

“ “Bridge Builders”Bridge Builders”

Community Health Ambassador Community Health Ambassador Program Major Components…Program Major Components… Curriculum = Curriculum = 20 Classroom Hours20 Classroom Hours

Approved for Approved for 2.0 CEU s2.0 CEU s

Focus Areas = Focus Areas = Diabetes, CancerDiabetes, Cancer

Requirements:Requirements:– Resource DirectoryResource Directory– 100 Encounters in Year 1 100 Encounters in Year 1 – Sign MOA ( Healthy Lifestyles)Sign MOA ( Healthy Lifestyles)– Continuing Education Session (1/year)Continuing Education Session (1/year)

Community Health Ambassador Community Health Ambassador Program Major ComponentsProgram Major Components con t… con t…

Stipend For Course Completion Stipend For Course Completion

Active Partners: Active Partners: Statewide Coordinator Statewide Coordinator FBO s & CBO sFBO s & CBO sNC Community College System NC Community College System ONSMS ONSMS Local Health Departments Local Health Departments 3 Instructors3 Instructors

Community Health Ambassador Community Health Ambassador Program Major Components…Program Major Components…

Pilot in Spring 2006 Pilot in Spring 2006

34 Faith-Based & Community Based 34 Faith-Based & Community Based Organizations Organizations

Curriculum Curriculum

11 Training Sessions Completed 11 Training Sessions Completed

Course = 20 Classroom HoursCourse = 20 Classroom Hours

Focus Areas = Diabetes, Cancer Focus Areas = Diabetes, Cancer

Community Health Ambassador Program’s Outreach Community Health Ambassador Program’s Outreach 2006- 20072006- 2007

Scotland

Guilford

Rockingham

Moore

Anson

UnionRichmond

Mecklenburg

Cabarrus

Stanly

SurryAshe

WilkesYadkin

Forsyth

Stokes

Davidson

RandolphRowan

Lincoln

ClevelandGaston

Iredell

CaldwellAlexander

CatawbaBurke

McDowellBuncombe

Rutherford

Polk

MadisonYancey

Watauga

Cherokee

Graham

ClayMacon

Jackson

Swain

AveryDavie

Montgomery

Mitchell

Henderson

Transylvania

Haywood

Wake

GranvillePerson

Orange

Lee

Hoke

Robeson

Columbus

Brunswick

PenderBladen

Sampson

DuplinOnslow

Jones

Lenoir

Wayne

Johnston

Harnett

Carteret

CravenPamlico

Beaufort Hyde

TyrrellDare

Gates

Hertford

Bertie

Martin

Pitt

Greene

Nash

Franklin

Warren

Halifax

Northampton

Edgecombe

Vance

Durham 2

Alamance

Cumberland

Washington

CurrituckCamden

Pasquotank

Perquimans

Chowan

NewHanover

Chatham

Caswell

Alleghany

Wilson

“It is easier to raise a strong child than to repair broken men”

-Frederick Douglass-

On Behalf of the OMHHD On Behalf of the OMHHD Thank You for Being a Partner in the Fight to Thank You for Being a Partner in the Fight to

Eliminate Health Disparities!Eliminate Health Disparities!