Center For Closing The Health Gap In Greater Cincinnati

LEADS EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH.

CITY OF CINCINNATI GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION MODEL TO ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES - CLOSING THE HEALTH GAP RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF CINCINNATI FOR OUR 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 CLOSING THE HEALTH GAP'S STAFF, OUR ANNUAL HEALTH EXPO, DO RIGHT CAMPAIGN, BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH MOVEMENT, AND THE DO RIGHT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES INITIATIVE. THE OUTCOMES FOR THIS GRANT INCORPORATE ALL PROGRAMS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - CLOSING THE HEALTH GAP SUPPLEMENTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH FROM GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HEALTH DISPARITIES FACED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINX, AND APPALACHIANS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH INCORPORATES THE DO RIGHT CAMPAIGN, AN INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI REGION. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE DO RIGHT KIDS, DO RIGHT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES INITIATIVE EMPHASIZING DIABETES, MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION AND HEALTHY COOKING, THE BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH MOVEMENT, AND OUR MULTIMEDIA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. COVID-19 CONTINUED TO IMPACT CLOSING THE HEALTH GAP'S SERVICE DELIVERY. WE USED BOTH IN PERSON AND AN ONLINE PLATFORMS FOR OUR PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDED A WIDE RANGE OF DIGITAL MEDIA AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND VIRTUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS. SOME OF THESE METHODS WERE VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS AND OUR COVID-19 RESOURCE WEBSITE. WE PROVIDED RELEVANT HEALTH EDUCATION INFORMATION RELATED TO COVID 19 TESTING, PRECAUTIONS, AND VACCINES THROUGH OUR CLOSINGTHEHEALTHGAP.ORG AND COVID19COMMUNITYRESOURCES.COM WEBSITES. THIS FISCAL YEAR WE DISTRIBUTED 1,271 COVID-19 TEST KITS; REGISTERED 401 PEOPLE FOR COVID-19 VACCINES; ATTENDED 33 VACCINE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS REACHING OVER 4,149 ATTENDEES; AND DISTRIBUTED 6,388 COVID-19 EDUCATION MATERIALS. OUR VIRTUAL AND ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS WERE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE REPORTED THE FOLLOWING: 20,563 VISITS TO CLOSINGTHEHEALTHGAP.ORG WEBSITE 2,800 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS; 71,400 REACH 1,300 TWITTER FOLLOWERS; 43,700 IMPRESSIONS 940 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS; 23,700 REACH 15,262 USERS COVID19COMMUNITYRESOURCES.COM WEBSITE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: 3,497 ATTENDEES DO RIGHT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES INITIATIVE - THE DO RIGHT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES INITIATIVE INCLUDES NUTRITION TRAIN THE TRAINER, HEALTHY STEPS, RELAX AND RESTORE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, WALKING CLUBS, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ONE OFF WORKSHOPS. THE CURRICULA'S FOCUS IS AROUND THE KEY THEMES OF EAT RIGHT, MOVE RIGHT, AND LIVE RIGHT. THERE WERE 808 REGISTRANTS FOR THESE SESSIONS AND 398 ATTENDEES. NUTRITION TRAIN THE TRAINER (NTT) TEACHES PARTICIPANTS HOW TO CHOOSE AND PREPARE HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES AND HOW TO EXPAND THE REACH OF NUTRITION EDUCATION BY TRAINING PARTICIPANTS TO TEACH OTHERS. HEALTHY STEPS BUILDS THE CAPACITY AND CONFIDENCE IN PRE-DIABETIC AND DIABETIC INDIVIDUALS IN MANAGING THEIR CONDITIONS TO LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES. DO RIGHT RELAX AND RESTORE (R&R) EXPLORES HOW STRESS EFFECTS THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL. PARTICIPANTS LEARN AND PRACTICE HOLISTIC SKILLS TO FREE THEMSELVES FROM UNPRODUCTIVE ANXIETIES AND UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE PEACE AND JOY IN DAILY LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE COMMUNITY. DO RIGHT KIDS & DO RIGHT HIGH SCHOOL COOKING CLUB DO RIGHT KIDS IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF DISADVANTAGED, OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN AT RISK FOR OBESITY AND BECOMING OVERWEIGHT. THE PROGRAM 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 HIGH SCHOOL COOKING CLUB IS AN INTERVENTION EDUCATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER NUTRITION AND HEALTHY MEAL PLANNING. INSTRUCTION IS HANDS-ON AND CONSISTS OF MEAL PREPARATION AND DIDACTIC INSTRUCTION. WE IMPLEMENTED THESE PROGRAMS IN 15 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HAMILTON COUNTY FOR 905 STUDENTS.

THE HEALTH COLLABORATIVE, VACCINATION OUTREACH & EDUCATION - THIS GRANT WAS USED TO DEVELOP AN AWARENESS BUILDING CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, EMPOWER, AND ACTIVATE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS GREATER CINCINNATI RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. BUILDING ON CHG'S WE MUST SAVE US CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN 2020, MESSAGING TOPICS, AND CALLS TO ACTION FOCUSED ON VACCINES, FACT BASED MEDICAL INFORMATION AND OTHER DETAILS RELATED TO RECOVERY FOR RESIDENT, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. INFORMATION WAS DISSEMINATED THROUGH MULTIMEDIA INCLUDING RADIO, TELEVISION, PRINT MEDIA, VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WEBSITE, NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. COMMUNITY OUTREACH INCLUDED QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND GROUP INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS.

DO RIGHT CAMPAIGN - THE DO RIGHT CAMPAIGN EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE NUTRITION, INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ENCOURAGES HEALTHY LIFESTYLES TO REDUCE OBESITY AND OBESITY-RELATED DISEASES AND REMOVES BARRIERS THAT LIMIT ACCESS TO HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. THE GOALS ARE TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HEALTH DISPARITIES AND TO CO-CREATE SHARED CULTURE OF HEALTH WITH RESIDENTS. THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN REACHED 249,444 THIS FISCAL YEAR. A COMPONENT OF THE DO RIGHT CAMPAIGN EXPANSION IS THE LIFE-STYLE MODIFICATION WHICH IS TARGETED TOWARDS NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND DELIVERED THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION. MORE SPECIFICALLY, FOCUSING ON HEALTHY EATING, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO HELP RESIDENTS SUSTAIN HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. WE ALSO COLLECT COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS IN TARGETED POPULATIONS TO IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. THIS FISCAL YEAR WE CONDUCTED 170 NEEDS ASSESSMENTS REGARDING COVID-19'S IMPACT. WE ALSO CONDUCTED TRAININGS FOR CINCINNATI METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY (CMHA) SENIOR RESIDENTS. OVER 522 PEOPLE ATTENDED 46 CMHA ACTIVITIES. 18TH ANNUAL HEALTH EXPO - THE 18TH ANNUAL HEALTH EXPO WAS HELD ON APRIL 30, 2022, AT CINCINNATI'S WASHINGTON PARK. OVER 8,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS FREE EVENT. THE EXPO PROMOTED AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES 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: 19 FREE, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SCREENINGS WITH OVER 1000 HEALTH SCREENINGS CONDUCTED. MOVIN- AND GROOVIN' STAGE WITH 11 CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL FITNESS DEMONSTRATIONS. CHILDREN'S PAVILION WITH HEALTH SCREENINGS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AND NUTRITION ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 2 TO 14. 103 EXHIBIT BOOTHS FEATURING HEALTH INFORMATION, DEMONSTRATIONS, FOOD, AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS. MAIN STAGE FEATURING 1 NATIONAL AND 6 LOCAL RECORDING ARTISTS AND A MORNING FITNESS SESSION BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH MOVEMENT PAVILION ATTENDEES COMPLETED HEALTH SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRES, AND 280 HEALTH EXPO EVALUATIONS. WE COLLECT THIS DATA FOR EVALUATION. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE INVITE EXPO ATTENDEES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH MOVEMENT - THE BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH MOVEMENT (BWHM) IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN ACROSS THE SOCIOECONOMIC SPECTRUM OF OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES -- BODY AND MIND. PILLARS OF FOCUS: PHYSICAL HEALTH MINDFUL HEALTH ECONOMIC HEALTH COMMUNITY HEALTH THE GOALS ARE TO INCREASE PARTICIPANTS INCREASE RELEVANT WEBSITE CONTENT TO SERVE AS REGIONAL, NATIONAL RESOURCE FOR WOMEN AND ORGANIZATIONS PUBLISH MOVEMENT AND PROGRAMMING RESULTS ENGAGE AREA BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IMPROVING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND REACH HAMILTON COUNTY, CARE FOR CAREGIVERS - CHG PROVIDES SUPPORT AND CARE SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS ("CAREGIVERS") OF SENIOR HAMILTON COUNTY RESIDENTS ("SENIOR RESIDENTS") AGE 60 OR OLDER TO BETTER PREPARE THEM TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF CAREGIVING. CHG PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR CAREGIVERS, IDENTIFICATION OF BARRIERS TO SELF-CARE, CAREGIVER HEALTH, HOLISTIC COPING STRATEGIES, STRESS REDUCTION, COMMUNICATION, GOAL SETTING AND SOLUTIONS TO DIFFICULT CAREGIVING SITUATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS COORDINATED THROUGH IN PERSON OR ONLINE INTERACTIVE AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. WE SPENT THIS YEAR PLANNING SINCE THIS WAS THE INITIAL OPERATING YEAR. WE CONDUCTED CAREGIVER ASSESSMENTS AND ONE PILOT PROGRAM. THERE WERE 26 REFERRALS AND 17 PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE PILOT. THE HEALTH COLLABORATIVE, TEST & PROTECT - THIS GRANT SUPPORTED HAMILTON COUNTY'S COVID-19 TESTING AND DATA COLLECTION PROJECT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: 1.ATTEND AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP AT COMMUNITY CORE TEAM MEETINGS (A MINIMUM OF ONE/WEEK) AND OTHER MEETINGS AS REQUESTED IN PLANNING, TESTING PRIORITIZATION AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION, IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW UP. 2.FACILITATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND MEETINGS WITH KEY LEADERSHIP AND/OR CONSTITUENTS TO ASSIST WITH TESTING SITE SELECTION, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW UP. 3.SUPPORT AND ADVISE TIMELY AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS TO COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND ORGANIZATIONS AS ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLATFORMS TO BEST REACH CRITICAL POPULATIONS. 4.PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND INSIGHT TO ONGOING EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK OF TESTING, MESSAGING AND EDUCATION TO HELP ENSURE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT 5.PARTICIPATE IN EFFORTS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY LEARNINGS, STORIES, CHALLENGES, AND BEST PRACTICES ARE INCLUDED IN FINAL PROJECT EVALUATIONS AND SUMMARIES. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY RADXUP- THE GOAL OF RADX-UP IS TO ADDRESS AND REDUCE THE DISPARITIES IN COVID-19 EDUCATION, TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, FOLLOW-UP AND TREATMENT (COVID-19 TESTING COMPONENTS) AMONG MINORITY, UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS (MUVP) THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF A COMMUNITY BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH INTEGRATED PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUAL, SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY, HEALTH SYSTEM AND BROADER CONTEXTUAL- LEVEL BARRIERS RELATED TO DISPARITIES IN COVID-19 TESTING COMPONENTS. THIS COLLABORATION PROVIDED COMMUNITY AND CHG CLIENTS WITH ACCESS TO COVID-19 EDUCATION AND REFERRAL TO TESTING SERVICES AND FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE PROVIDED THROUGH THE GRANT. THIS FUNDING SUPPORTED SALARIES FOR TWO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO CARRY OUT THE EDUCATION, REFERRAL TO TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, BARRIERS ASSESSMENTS, AND RESOURCE REFERRAL IN BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.