Faith-based Outreach

The faith-based community has been one of the strongest sectors of support for education and action. The project involves both the pastors and a health coordinator from 23 faith-based organizations. The health coordinators meet at monthly training meetings, and the pastors meet two to four times per year at Pastors’ Breakfasts. The pastors have educated congregants from the pulpit, and encouraged them to participate in these programs, aided by a series of health advisories prepared by Bronx Health REACH. Many of the pastors have also been active members of the legal and regulatory committee. Bronx Health REACH has received funds from the National Center for Minority Health and Disparities (NIH) to evaluate this project, and is currently developing a toolkit to permit others to replicate its most successful activities.

The health coordinators have used their training to develop initiatives within their congregations, including: