The City of Fort Worth Public Health Department, Outreach Division, developed and implemented a program to train volunteers in inter-faith and secular settings to become the “touchpoints” for health promotion. Volunteers were recruited through faith community leaders and low-income apartment complexes. Training centers on community building, with specific activities crucial to health and wellness. Through participatory learning techniques, CHPs learn to identify health concerns, community resources, and networking strategies as well as how to empower congregations to take an active role in their own health and the health of their neighbors. Results: Since May 1999, thirty-six CHPs were "commissioned" in the City of Fort Worth. They represent diverse populations including Muslims, Jews, Christians, African-Americans, Latinos and Asians. Of this group, 97.2% actively serve their communities providing referrals to various agencies, organizing and implementing health fairs, and providing health information in their newsletter. The program utilizes ongoing evaluation activities to inform program staff and identify intervention activities that receive the greatest response from the community. Preliminary cost benefit of the CHP program to the community has been calculated at $33,363.00. Conclusions: The participatory learning format of CHP training sessions supports a cohesive group which has been maintained by monthly follow up meetings. The benefit of utilizing established inter-faith communities and onsite apartment management staff enhanced population based health promotion and disease prevention activities. The commitment shown by both secular and non-secular members allowed public health to reach the population with new strategies in an atmosphere of trust.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to: 1. Discuss how public health departments, secular and non-secular congregations can partner to improve the health of the community. 2. Identify ways that a congregation can reach out to the community at large to provide health promotion and disease prevention activities. 3. Develop a tool to evaluate program effectiveness.
Keywords: Collaboration, Faith Community
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.