Lessons Learned in the Development of a Community Health Partnership for Men

Men of color in the United States today are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, as well as other chronic diseases, and are less likely to engage in preventive health behaviors. In response to this public health crisis, a federally-funded pilot program designed to reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke among men of color was implemented in an urban setting. Presenters will discuss the strategies employed to develop this successful program that has helped over 1,000 men increase their knowledge about men's health, physical activity and nutrition; increase their engagement in physical activity and healthy eating; better navigate the healthcare system; and has identified and trained grass-roots leadership around men's health in order to sustain the program beyond the three-year cycle of this pilot project. This presentation will share lessons learned from program implementation based on the ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the community partnerships developed and careful tracking of clinical indicators of the participating men. Audience members will be able to describe the quantitative and qualitative impact of a community intervention on a group of men of color; to understand the challenges related to and strategies for engaging these men in efforts to improve their health; and to be able to describe four program models that can be used to engage men of color in positive health behaviors.

A critical component of the program was to address the lack of access to health care for men of color. Program staff and community stakeholders recognized the importance of culturally appropriate messaging to encourage men to adopt preventive health behaviors.