Center For Closing The Health Gap In Greater Cincinnati

Programs: City of cincinnati grassroots mobilization model to eliminate health disparities - the health gap received funding from the city of cincinnati for the health gap grassroots mobilization model to eliminate health disparities which empowers communities to improve nutrition and increase physical activity for better overall health outcomes. The model promotes community outreach, awareness, and education to combat obesity through healthy lifestyles, advocacy, and policy changes. The city's funding partially supports the health gap's staff, our annual health expo, mt. Auburn do right campaign, food access and healthy living policy development, and the wellness series. The outcomes for this grant are incorporated in all health gap programs.

a. Community outreach - the health gap funds community outreach through its general operating funds to increase awareness of health disparities faced by african americans, hispanics/latinos, and appalachians. Much of the health gap's community outreach incorporates the do right obesity campaign, an initiative to improve physical activity and nutrition in the greater cincinnati region. Other programs include the community engagement academy, hands helping hands conference, a wellness series emphasizing diabetes, stress, nutrition and healthy cooking, a men's health conference, and do right healthy corner store network. The community engagement academy (cea) trains residents to become community leaders. Training includes community organizing, advocacy skills, and project sustainability. The students learn to influence, engage, and mobilize community members on their block, their church or organization to address important community issues. They also learn how to develop action plans to make change and work with others through collaborative leadership. Cea held 1 class this fiscal year. Over 100 persons attended the november 2016 black men's health conference which featured a keynote address by dr. Ian smith. Overall, attendees were impressed by the event. 100% of the attendees indicated they would recommend it to others and would attend similar events. Do right healthy corner store network's focus is to create a culture of health within our partner stores. We promote the purchasing of healthy food items from corner stores through use of social media, the health gap website, and mail. Additionally, we provide nutrition education and taste- testing demonstrations for community residents. Community health coaches and volunteers completed 112 total nutrition education sessions this year and 70 technical assistance visits to the 12 stores in the network. All stores have undergone store conversions including new refrigeration, dry food shelving, awnings, wall paint, or external and internal healthy living signage. Other outreach activities included a weekly newspaper column, online communications, local and national presentations, community workshops, our internship program (7 interns this year), and program sponsorships. The health gap also partnered in community events to promote the health gap's programs and other important health issues. Thousands of people were reached through these community events.

infant mortality reduction grant - the health gap received a grant from the ohio department of medicaid through its medicaid managed care plan leader molina healthcare for initiatives to help women and infants connect to quality healthcare and care management. Our do right babies program teaches self-efficacy through activities promoting healthy eating, healthy living, physical activity, and safe sleep training for mothers, fathers, and other family members. We held numerous events to educate residents about these issues and get them involved with planning programs for their communities. Program highlights include the following "3 focus groups for 25 mothers, 15 fathers, and 37stakeholders and grandparents "diaper distribution to 126 mothers "fatherhood forum & partnership with kappa alpha psi fraternity - 200 men reached "baby shower to promote infant mortality awareness to 213 participants.

14th annual health expo - we held our 14th annual health expo on april 29, 2017 at cincinnati's washington park. Over 10,000 people attended this free event despite the torrential rainstorm. The expo promoted awareness about health disparities and healthy life styles for families. Participants received information about nutrition, physical activities, and related topics to help them lead healthier lives. We featured a variety of family friendly activities including: "16 free, comprehensive health screenings with over 895 health screenings conducted. "movin- and groovin' stage with 10 continuous physical fitness demonstrations. "children's pavilion with health screenings and physical fitness and nutrition activities for ages 2 to 14. "86 exhibit booths featuring health information, demonstrations, food, and wellness products. "entertainment featuring national recording artist zapp. "youth talent show attendees completed health screening questionnaires, 65 nutrition quizzes, 90 men's health surveys, and 419 health expo evaluations. We collect this data for evaluation. Throughout the year, expo attendees are invited to participate in our programs and activities. Do right kids - the health gap received grants from the aetna foundation and grad cincinnati for do right kids to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged, overweight or obese children, and children at risk for obesity and becoming overweight. The program provides a 12-week curriculum each semester that educates children and their families about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. The instruction is hands-on and activity-based. The program has three components: in-school, after school, and family nights. Do right kids was implemented in south avondale elementary school, rockdale academy, frederick douglass elementary, wm. Howard taft elementary, and ethel m. Taylor academy. Each school hosted family nights with cooking and fitness demonstrations for family members. Fitness demonstrations included zumba, hip-hop dance workouts, and group fitness. Four schools had do right produce markets where over 882 bags of vegetables and fruit were distributed. 612 students participated in-school, 184 participated after school, and 74 parents attended family night. Mt. Auburn do right block-by block campaign - the mt. Auburn do right do right builds off of the success of our do right campaign, but on a smaller block-by-block scale. This program is funded by the health gap and the city of cincinnati. The program helps families eat better and exercise more to improve their overall quality of life. The program is a neighborhood resident-led, household focused, multi week intervention. The intervention is designed to improve diet and physical activity, and to increase residents' confidence with asking for support for changes in the built environment that will support healthy behaviors. Behavioral goals focus on increasing fruit and vegetable intake to > 5 servings/day, obtaining 3 structured meals daily, decreasing screen time (outside of work or school) to < 2 hours per day, increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to > 1 hour per day, and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake to almost none. Mt. Auburn do right steering committee members meet regularly, canvass the neighborhood with information about the program, and plan monthly community events. This fiscal year 10 health champions were selected and trained to deliver the 14-week intervention to 50 households (75% completed) 18 residents are active members of the community council and are strong neighborhood advocates. The team reached well over 400 persons through its many community events. Choice neighborhoods implementation grant - the health gap contracts with the community builders, inc. On the choice neighborhoods implementation grant funded by the united states department of housing and urban development. This 5-year grant includes numerous partners and will implement a transformative plan for comprehensive and sustainable revitalization for the cincinnati neighborhood of avondale. We are a health partner providing programs to improve avondale choice residents' health behaviors, nutrition, and community engagement skills. Highlights from this year's program include the following: 1. Avondale library summer youth program - the health gap hosted a 10-week garden and nutrition program at the library for 50 youth. 2. Community engagement academy (cea) 3. Nutrition train the trainer - 7-week program equipped residents with tools and knowledge to educate their peers about healthier cooking and lifestyle choices. 4. Avondale choice do right get covered - 5 sessions held to inform and enroll residents in health insurance under the affordable care act. 16 enrollments were completed. 5. Choice eat, live and move right activities held throughout the year for families. Mt. Auburn walking track - the health gap received a grant from interact for health to build a walking track around the taft elementary school playground for the mt. Auburn community. The track was completed and is being used by the school and neighborhood residents.