Minority Health Task Force History
2005-2006
The Minority Health Task Force received
another state-wide Bronze ACS Cancer Control Impact Award for their third
“Let’s Talk About It” program held on July 23, 2005,
at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Canonsburg. Thirty men attended, and 22
were screened.
In November 2005, WCHP, The Washington Hospital, and Centerville Clinics staff were trained in Stanford University’s evidence-based program titled “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.”
The first African American Health Fair was held at the
Washington Crown Center mall on April 8, 2006. Over 60 health care exhibitors
were present at tables. Information on attendees was collected by a raffle-incentivized
survey. About 39% of the attendees indicated they were African American,
which is higher than Washington County (3.3%), and Washington City (14.6%).
Attendees visited an average of 20 tables and received an average of two
health screenings.
Of the blood pressures taken, about 55% were considered high in either
or both systolic and/or diastolic readings. The Body Mass Index (BMI)
readings indicated that 80% were overweight, and the percent body fat
readings indicated that 90% were obese.
The task force received a three-year grant from the Highmark
Foundation to support the Health Ministry Initiative. The goal of the
initiative is to identify a Health Ministry Team within the African-American
Community in Washington County, and train them to become health advocates
for people in their churches and community.
2004-2005
The Minority Health Task Force received another state-wide Bronze ACS
Cancer Control Impact Award for their second “Let’s Talk About
It” Program held on June 26, 2004 at St. Paul AME Church in Washington.
The task force sponsored the American Cancer Society's "Tell A Friend" program which was held at the Washington Christian Outreach and Washington County Food Pantries. Ninety-three women were reached, of whom 39% went on to have their first mammogram.
Two WellLife™ programs tailored to African Americans
were held from September 2004 to December 2004 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church
and First Baptist of Donora. Twenty-seven people participated. One more
African-American WellLife™ program is planned for fall 2005 at Nazareth
Baptist Church.
The task force also presented at the NAACP state convention held at the
Holiday Inn in October 2004 in Meadow Lands, PA. In addition, task force
members attended various community events throughout the year to promote
Minority Health issues.
The second Washington County Minority Health Summit was held on April 9, 2005 at Nazareth Baptist Church. This forum started the creation of a strategic plan for the task force.
Late in June 2005, the task force received a $4,000 grant from University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Minority Health to purchase blood pressure cuffs and train health care professionals and lay people in Stanford University’s evidenced-based program entitled “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.” These resources will further the task force’s goal of creating Church-based health ministries.
2003-2004
The Minority Health Task Force sponsored their second prostate health education and screening event, the American Cancer Society's (ACS) and 100 Black Men's "Let's Talk About It" program, on June 26, 2004 at St. Paul AME Church. Fifteen African-American men attended, and six were screened. The task force received a state-wide Bronze ACS Cancer Control Impact Award for their first “Let’s Talk About It” Program held in 2003.
The task force sponsored the American Cancer Society's "Tell A Friend" program which trains women to call other women to remind them to get their yearly mammograms. Five women and a coordinator from Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Canonsburg and Nazareth Baptist Church in Washington were trained in October 2003.
The first WellLife™ program tailored to African Americans was held from September to December 2003 at the LeMoyne Multicultural Community Center. Fourteen people participated, and they continue to meet and exercise together as part of a regular walking group. Two more African-American WellLife™ programs are planned for fall 2004 at Mt. Olive and First Baptist of Donora.
Influenza and pneumonia vaccine clinics were held at Nazareth and Mt. Olive in December 2003. The free vaccine distributed by Cornerstone Care, Inc., was made available through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Immunizations (PA DOH, DOI).
2002-2003
The Minority Health Subcommittee started as a work group of the Access
To Care Task Force and held a prostate health education and screening
event modeled after the American Cancer Society's and 100 Black Men's
"Let's Talk About It" program on June 21, 2003. 17 African-American
men attended, and 5 were screened. This intervention was based on data
from the PA DOH that illustrated that African-American men were twice
as likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of prostate cancer as Caucasian
men.
The Board of Directors recommended that a Minority Health Task Force be created to address additional minority health concerns. This will be explored in the fiscal year 2003-2004.