New York's Statewide Diabetes Faith Based Initiative

One in every eight New Yorkers has diabetes. The magnitude of this epidemic and the associated health and financial burden require support for prevention and management of diabetes in community based settings. Health promotion programs implemented in faith based organizations (FBOs) have been demonstrated to improve health outcomes for their congregation members; therefore, FBOs provide an optimal platform for implementing diabetes prevention and management programs.

In 2009, the New York State Health Foundation gave a grant to the Institute for Leadership to launch the statewide Diabetes Faith Based Initiative, aimed at preventing diabetes onset and complications among members of FBOs in New York State. Through this three-year initiative, FBOs identify members at risk for diabetes and its complications; assist members in preventing or managing their diabetes through self-management programs; link members to ongoing clinical care; and advocate for diabetes-related policy changes. In year one, IFL created a Faith-Based Leadership Consortium representing over 20 religious denominations statewide; trained 52 community health workers to teach the Defy Diabetes self-management curriculum; and implemented 23 Defy Diabetes programs with over 350 participants in communities throughout New York State. In year two, the initiative will be expanded to include 75 additional congregations statewide.

There is a dearth of information on the elements that lead to strong faith-based health initiatives, particularly those unaffiliated with a health care organization. Year two will also include an evaluation of the initiative to determine its effects on diabetes knowledge, and to identify characteristics necessary for successful replication of such programs.