Minority Health Task Force
Minority Health
Summit
Third Annual
September 23, 2006
WCHP Vision and Mission
Vision Statement:
Washington County Health Partners, Inc. envisions a community in which
citizens of all ages are able to enjoy a life in which they know peace of mind,
body and spirit.
Mission Statement:
Washington County Health Partners, Inc. serves as a catalyst to unite the
energies of the community to improve peace of mind, body, and spirit by:
identifying and addressing aspects of our community health and wellness
that are less than optimal;
empowering collaborative Task Forces to conduct activities that will
enhance the community health status; and
encouraging citizens to make positive decisions that lead to peace of mind,
body and spirit.
Minority Health Task Force
Problem Statement
Health disparities between majority and minority groups
have been well documented (county statistics and focus
groups), but no large-scale effort has been made to
reduce them, especially in Washington County. The
Minority Health Task Force has been charged with
identifying health issues in Washington County’s
African-American community and partnering together
to bring about programs to address these issues to
improve the health of African-Americans in our county.
Minority Health Task Force
State Evidence
Figure 1. Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence and Mortality Rates,*
All Cancer Sites, by Sex and Race, Pennsylvania Residents, 1994-1998.
*per 100,000 1970 US standard million population.
Source: PA Department of Health, Online, Number of
Minority Health Task Force Cases by Stage, Sex and Race, by County, 23
Selected Sites, 1990-1998
Priority Lists
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco use
Cancer
Health Insurance
Mental Health
Minority Health Task Force
Barriers
Lack of education / knowledge / awareness /
mixed messages
Fear / lack of trust due to bad experiences
Apathy / denial
Community not involved
Lack of resources (money & health insurance)
Identifying those at risk
Minority Health Task Force
Solutions
Prayer
Get involved
More education programs then pass on to /
encourage others
Need local role models / advocates /
spokespeople
Minority Health Task Force
Main Objective
The main objective of the Health Ministry
Initiative is to identify a Health Ministry Team
within the African-American community in
Washington County, and train them to become
health advocates for people in their churches and
community.
Minority Health Task Force
Marketing Objectives and
Outcomes
1. To develop a marketing and communications plan for promoting the Health Ministry
Initiative and programs within the initiative:
1. With pastors/leaders by July 2006
2. With churches/organizations by September 2006
2. To develop a Health Ministry Resource Box that will contain such items as blood pressure
cuffs, stethoscope, and teaching materials by June 2006
3. To engage the pastors/leaders of at least 10 African-American churches/organizations by
July 2006:
1. Schedule a face-to-face meeting
2. Complete church/organization assessment/structure form
3. Identify at least one health minister
4. To activate at least one health minister in at least 5 churches/organizations by August 2006:
1. Schedule a face-to-face orientation meeting
2. Complete health minister assessment form
3. Get input on health resource box
5. To hold a health summit by September 2006:
1. Announce health ministry initiative grant
2. Introduce health ministers to the community
3. Recruit minority health task force members
4. Gather input on how we can partner with attendees
Minority Health Task Force
Marketing Objectives and
Outcomes (cont.)
6. Educate and train each health minister in basic health promotion, disease
prevention skills, and management of chronic disease by December
2006, utilizing such programs as:
1. Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions
2. WCHP’s WellLife™ Program
3. Blood pressure measurement, CPR, etc.
7. Shadow each health minister through their first year of implementation of
the Initiative
8. Act as a resource and provide yearly update training to each health
minister
9. Collect outcome data from each health minister monthly and prepare it
for dissemination to key audiences:
1. Quarterly to health ministers and task force
2. Annually to funders and community
Minority Health Task Force
Next Steps
Welcome additional members to task force
– Task force meets second Thursday of every month
from 5:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. at Nazareth Baptist
Church in Washington, PA
Refine and Implement Minority Health Task
Force strategic plan
Minority Health Task Force
Thank you!
Washington County Health Partners, Inc.
190 N Main St, Ste 208
Washington, PA 15301
(P) 724-222-6511
(F) 724-222-6685
(E) info@wchpinc.org
Minority Health Task Force