Center for Minority Health

Healthy Black Family Project

The Healthy Black Family Project provides activities that help individuals and families prevent diabetes and high blood pressure. Risks for getting diabetes increase with age and they include: being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, race/ethnicity, history of gestational diabetes (getting diabetes when pregnant), high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an inactive lifestyle.

Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay getting the disease by losing a few pounds of their body weight. You can do it by eating healthier and increasing your physical activity each week. In other words: you don't have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps lead to big rewards.

The Healthy Black Family Project provides assistance and support to individuals and families who want to make these changes. Join the Healthy Black Family Project by signing up for any or all of the free activities listed:


Health Risk Assessment - a series of questions and health screenings that provide you with your own personal health analysis.

Family Health History - an interview with a genetic counseling student to let you know what your health risks are based on the information you have about your family’s health history.

Stress Management - work with experts to learn how to manage your stress through yoga, tai chi, meditation and other forms of relaxation.

Health Coach - work with a certified health coach to design and learn easy ways to increase your daily physical activity, modify your food intake, and reduce stress, within your own home or otherwise.

Nutrition Information and Assistance - work with a certified nutritionist to learn better ways of shopping for and preparing foods that will decrease your risks of getting diabetes and high blood pressure.

Lay Health Advocate - a trained lay health advocate will be assigned to help encourage and motivate you to make the changes you want to make; and to help you get health information and resources you need to make them.

Smoking Cessation - individual or group support will be provided to anyone who wants help to quit smoking.

Self-Management of Chronic Disease – learn practical ways to better manage your chronic disease.

NEWS / Press Releases

http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoID=100552
Producer: Andy Starnes
Since the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh established the Healthy Black Family Project three years ago, 6,000 people have enrolled. It is based at the Kingsly Association in East Liberty.

PITT’s Center For Minority Health And Wpxi-Tv Join Forces To Present Program On Health Issues Facing African-Americans
January 24, 2006, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health’s (GSPH) Center for Minority Health (CMH) has joined forces with WPXI-TV, Channel 11, in a year-long partnership that will produce a variety of health education program specials and vignettes designed to raise awareness of what works to prevent type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in Pittsburgh’s African-American community.

PITT’S CENTER FOR MINORITY HEALTH AWARDED GRANT FROM ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY BLACK FAMILY PROJECT
By Alan Aldinger, UPMS News Bureau, August 24, 2005

The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health’s (GSPH) Center for Minority Health (CMH) has received a $500,000 matching grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in support of its ground-breaking Healthy Black Family Project (HBFP), an ambitious intervention designed to prevent diabetes and hypertension in African American neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s East End.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05236/558623.stm
By Alan Aldinger, Post Gazette, August 24, 2005

CENTER FOR MINORITY HEALTH LAUNCHES THE HEALTHY BLACK FAMILY PROJECT IN EFFORT TO DECREASE DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION IN PITTSBURGH NEIGHBORHOODS
ByAlan Aldinger, UPMS News Bureau, October 26, 2004
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) Center for Minority Health (CMH) has taken their public health campaign to city neighborhoods by launching the Healthy Black Family Project (HBFP), an ambitious intervention designed to prevent diabetes and hypertension in black neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s East End.


Project Partners

Center for Minority Health, GSPH, University of Pittsburgh

African American Chamber of Commerce of
Western Pennsylvania

Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD)

Beverly J.W. Lovelace Children’s Program

BTC Center

Centers for Healthy Hearts & Souls

The HAIR Project (Health Advocates in Reach)

Hosanna House, Inc.

Kingsley Association, Inc.

Lay Health Advocates Training Program

Metro Urban Institute, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

The New Pittsburgh Courier

The Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Primary Care Health Services, Inc.

Vintage, Inc.

University of Pittsburgh

Late Life Depression Program

HBFP Locations:

Kingsley Association (East Liberty)
6435 Frankstown Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-361-2391
(Headquarters)

Hosanna House, Inc. (Wilkinsburg)
807 Wallace Avenue
Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
412-342-1344