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Jackson County
Closing the Gap Cardiovascular Disease Program |
| The Jackson County "Closing the Gap" Program started
in June of 2000, and consists of collaborative partnerships with
faith-based organizations and community/civic groups. Services that are
currently being provided by sub-contractors are as follows BMI & weight
screening, blood pressure screening, physical activity classes,
nutrition education classes and seminars, smoking cessation education,
and leisure time activities. Each of these outreach impact areas is
supported by a referral & follow up networking system. This system
allows for immediate follow-up by someone in the health field on the
individual who has been found in need of medical service by someone in
the health field. This program is based on a community empowerment model
that provides for service provision through community sites which are
faith based and social minded. The program coordinator, Latresha Pittman, along with a community outreach worker, provides services that include:
Mrs. Pittman, along with the State Health Office, monitors and tracks
program success and outcomes on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis
through thorough evaluative site visits. The objective of the Jackson
County Closing the Gap program is to achieve significant reduction in
health disparities in racial and ethnic populations in the area of
cardiovascular disease. The target population is African American adults
with some emphasis on youth through intergenerational activities. This
program provides high access and availability to the Jackson County
communities, including those outlying areas that are often missed in
some service models.
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