Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112714

Cheryl Taylor, PhD, Principal Investigator, Southern University And A&M College, School of Nursing, 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1020, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504.680.2810, cheryltaylor@suson.subr.edu, Christi Stewart, MPH, Wellness Resource Navigator, Black Women's Health Imperative; REACH 2010: At the Heart of New Orleans, 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1020, New Orleans, LA 70112, Carolyn LeBraneTilton, MPH, Wellness Resource Navigator, REACH 2010: At the Heart of New Orleans, 2339 Constance Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, Shavon Arline, MPH, Community Health & Prevention Supervisor, Virginia Department of Health, 301 Halifax St., Petersburg, VA 23113, and Althea Latimore, REACH 2010 @ the Heart of New Orleans, 1515 Poydras St., Suite 1020, New Orleans, LA 70112.

REACH 2010: At the Heart of New Orleans is a, cardiovascular risk reduction research demonstration project in underserved African American communities that has organized, recruited, and retained over 50 African American community health workers known as health coaches and self-help facilitators. The REACH Coalition is a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, National Black Women's Health Imperative, Black Women's Health Project-New Orleans, City of New Orleans Health Department, LA State Office of Public Health-Cardiovascular Health Program, Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project, Southern University and A&M College, School of Nursing, Baton Rouge, LA. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Louisiana for both men and women. African Americans are approximately 35% more likely to suffer with high blood pressure compared to 24.5% for whites. Stress is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Community health workers engaged in partnerships to reduce heart health disparities in minority communities face multilevel challenges. Community health workers work with minimal resources, maximum problems, and are at risk for neglecting self-care. In this presentation, community health workers will illustrate correlations between self-care and caring for others while balancing multiple roles in underserved communities. Experienced community health workers will offer evidence-based stress management strategies that promote health and prevent burnout. Participants will recognize the importance of exercise, nutrition, rest, leisure, and recreation in maintaining optimal health while promoting healthy behavior in communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe community health workers roles as patient navigators, researchers, and trainers, and health coaches in partnerships to build community capacity for reducing heart health disparities in African American communities.
• Evaluate community health workers’ behaviors that increase their risk for stress and burnout while working in underserved communities.
• Apply 5 stress management strategies that successful community health workers use to balance overload, manage personal stress, and protect their own health.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Partnerships

Related Web page: www.blackwomenshealth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.