Center for Minority Health

This year our theme is “Get Your Fitness Assessment.” Our focus will be on better understanding the progress of our members. We have been blessed to provide the HBFP free to members and we want to keep it this way. The best way to do this is by showing our funders the real evidence. The main source of evidence is your participation. It is as easy as just simply showing up! This lets us know that this is a valuable program that you want to keep here in Pittsburgh. The next best evidence is showing them how your participation has made a difference in your lifestyle, health choices, medications and Body-Mass Index. And the way we show that evidence is through your fitness assessment. April 2009 will be a chance to get a fitness assessment and show that the project is working for you. As of this date, we have 8,000 members who have joined the HBFP and 2,820 members who have completed their first fitness assessment. We want all members who haven’t had a fitness assessment to get one and all members who have, to get another one. Also, 668 people have had their Family Health Histories done. We need to make sure that all of those individuals also get a fitness assessment because it will help us understand how you are working towards avoiding the health risks in your family history. There will also be an opportunity for members to tell us about their success stories, challenges, and how you are taking charge of your lifestyle and improving your health. Again, all of this information will assist us in showing our funders and the world how the project has benefited each of you.

What are some of the changes HBFP members are sharing with us?

Attitudes have changed. Members are increasing their beliefs and ability to change their behaviors. For instance, people have stopped smoking; engage in regular physical activity; changed their diet to eat more fruits and veggies; and finding are ways to manage and decrease their stress. They have told us they enjoy yoga, body-toning, rhythm and movement, and African dance classes. They also enjoy the nutrition classes and cancer informational sessions. We are very pleased that people are coming to us with excellent reports from their doctors about the changes seen during their check-ups. These changes have resulted in many doctors referring their patients to us to take advantage of the program activities. We are also glad to see the strong social networks and friendships that develop as a part of the project.

What activities will we see this year at NMHM?

Health Coaches will be holding classes to demonstrate yoga, African dance, rhythm and movement, and body-toning. Our Human Genetic students will also be doing family health histories. As a result of getting a Family Health History completed, many members have increased their physical activity; and information-seeking is on the rise, with more and more people asking questions about their health. There are thousands of people who have signed up for HBFP, but have not taken advantage of the program, whether it is because of their schedules, lack of motivation or some other reason. 2009 is the year we are really encouraging those members to get active. We are here for you!

What are some of the ways we can get the HBFP members more involved in 2009?

Members can become part of the Yes We Can Program. They will go through the Lay Health Advocate training so that they can help us motivate and encourage members to become active and get their fitness assessments done every April and October.

What are your final thoughts on NMHM 2009?

Call 412.361.1091 to schedule your fitness assessment now! Or just stop by on April 4th between 10 AM - 4 PM and a Health Coach will assist you.

Stephen B. Thomas, PhD
Director, Center for Minority Health

Community Health Promotion Activities Sponsored By:

The Pittsburgh Foundation
The DSF Charitable Foundation
Highmark Foundation
Heinz Endowments
Poise Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
NIH National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities Dr. Judith Davenport
Mr. Nicolas Beldecos

Presented by:
Healthy Black Family Project
A Program of Center for Minority Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

Center for Minority Health
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Thomas, PI Save the Date!!! April 4, 2009 10 AM-4 PM Kingsley Association (East Liberty) What will we see at National Minority Health Month (NMHM) that is different from NMHMs in the past? This year our theme is “Get Your Fitness Assessment.” Our focus will be on better understanding the progress of our members. We have been blessed to provide the HBFP free to members and we want to keep it this way. The best way to do this is by showing our funders the real evidence. The main source of evidence is your participation. It is as easy as just simply showing up! This lets us know that this is a valuable program that you want to keep here in Pittsburgh. The next best evidence is showing them how your participation has made a difference in your lifestyle, health choices, medications and Body-Mass Index. And the way we show that evidence is through your fitness assessment. April 2009 will be a chance to get a fitness assessment and show that the project is working for you. As of this date, we have 8,000 members who have joined the HBFP and 2,820 members who have completed their first fitness assessment. We want all members who haven’t had a fitness assessment to get one and all members who have, to get another one. Also, 668 people have had their Family Health Histories done. We need to make sure that all of those individuals also get a fitness assessment because it will help us understand how you are working towards avoiding the health risks in your family history. There will also be an opportunity for members to tell us about their success stories, challenges, and how you are taking charge of your lifestyle and improving your health. Again, all of this information will assist us in showing our funders and the world how the project has benefited each of you. What are some of the changes HBFP members are sharing with us? Attitudes have changed. Members are increasing their beliefs and ability to change their behaviors. For instance, people have stopped smoking; engage in regular physical activity; changed their diet to eat more fruits and veggies; and finding are ways to manage and decrease their stress. They have told us they enjoy yoga, body-toning, rhythm and movement, and African dance classes. They also enjoy the nutrition classes and cancer informational sessions. We are very pleased that people are coming to us with excellent reports from their doctors about the changes seen during their check-ups. These changes have resulted in many doctors referring their patients to us to take advantage of the program activities. We are also glad to see the strong social networks and friendships that develop as a part of the project. What activities will we see this year at NMHM? Health Coaches will be holding classes to demonstrate yoga, African dance, rhythm and movement, and body-toning. Our Human Genetic students will also be doing family health histories. As a result of getting a Family Health History completed, many members have increased their physical activity; and information-seeking is on the rise, with more and more people asking questions about their health. There are thousands of people who have signed up for HBFP, but have not taken advantage of the program, whether it is because of their schedules, lack of motivation or some other reason. 2009 is the year we are really encouraging those members to get active. We are here for you! What are some of the ways we can get the HBFP members more involved in 2009? Members can become part of the Yes We Can Program. They will go through the Lay Health Advocate training so that they can help us motivate and encourage members to become active and get their fitness assessments done every April and October. What are your final thoughts on NMHM 2009? Call 412.361.1091 to schedule your fitness assessment now! Or just stop by on April 4th between 10 AM - 4 PM and a Health Coach will assist you. Stephen B. Thomas, PhD Director, Center for Minority Health Community Health Promotion Activities Sponsored By: The Pittsburgh Foundation The DSF Charitable Foundation Highmark Foundation Heinz Endowments Poise Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation NIH National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities Dr. Judith Davenport Mr. Nicolas Beldecos Presented by: Healthy Black Family Project A Program of Center for Minority Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh © 2009-2010 Center for Minority Health Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Privacy Policy