Debbie Gold
Program Manager
Office of Health Promotion & Substance Abuse Prevention
Montgomery County Department of
Health & Human Services
240-777-1772

• A partnership between the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services and the Black Minister's Conference of Montgomery County
• Goal is to reduce/eliminate health disparities among African Americans, especially those that have tobacco as a risk factor
• Consists of 11 African American churches
• Utilizes a health promoter model, with a team of 23 outreach workers representing the churches
• The team meets monthly and conducts everything from one–on–one interactions to large group interventions

(image: header for G.O.S.P.E.L. Program)

• Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) rank as the # 1 killer of African Americans*
• Over 4 out of every 10 African American adults have CVD*
• The age adjusted death rate from coronary heart disease was almost 20% higher among African Americans than for the total adult population in the U.S.*
• African-Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 are 2.5 times more likely to die from heart failure than Caucasians in the same age range**
• Between the ages of 45 and 64, African American males have a 70% higher risk for heart failure than Caucasian males**
• African American females between the ages of 45 and 54 have a 50% greater risk to develop heart failure than Caucasian females**
• Based on data from the Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that there are approximately 700,000 African Americans with heart failure in the United States, and this number is expected to grow to 900,000 by 2010**.

(image: image titled "Health Promotion, Working to Eliminate Disparities")

(image: photo of the presentation "Heart Health Presentation Board")

• Two hour group presentation on heart health
• Conducted at a local community center
• Cardiologist presentation
• Healthy snacks (only cost)

Outcome:
47 people attended
High evaluation scores
Good feedback from the cardiologist

• Three hour group presentation on heart health
• Conducted at a local community center (better location)
• Better Health Players – role plays on doctor-patient communication
• Cardiologist presentation
• Healthy snacks (only cost)

Outcome:
63 people attended
High evaluation scores
Good feedback from the cardiologist

• More in–depth approach
• Comprehensive, individual attention
• Address modifiable risk factors – smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and overweight, stress
• Upscale venue to include a meal
• Incentive
• Expand evaluation component
• Funding support and in-kind contributions
• Include cultural competence

• Discuss with outreach team
• Email to all community representatives from the 5 local hospitals
• Email organizations and businesses
• Call/research potential sources of funding
• Determine potential dates with cardiologist
• Notify healthcare professionals, medical students
• Research venue
• Schedule planning meeting

G.O.S.P.E.L. Program
(Glorifying Our Spiritual & Physical Existence for Life Program)
Heart Health Symposium
Planning Meeting
November 21, 2005
Agenda

• Welcome, Sign-In & Introductions
• Heart Health Symposium
  Logistics –
  who
  what
  when
  where
• Partnerships
• Funding/sponsors
• Next steps/Next meeting

• Established planning committee & meeting schedule
• Detailed follow-up notes produced after every meeting
• Highlighted action items
• Solicited in-kind support and donations

(image: clip art of conference table, and clipboard)

• Breakout Sessions
• Group Schedule
• Volunteer recruitment and coordination
• Exhibit tables
• Participant recruitment
• Evaluation component

(image: drawing of people at a meeting)

• Smoking prevention and cessation
• Stress management
• Blood pressure screening – utilizing trained medical students
• Clinical screenings – heart health related
• Body fat analysis
• Ask the professional
• Maintained keynote speaker - cardiologist

(image: photos of Breakout Sessions)

Group 1 Schedule
If you are in Group 1, please follow this schedule:
9:20: Report to your Blood Pressure screening in Salon D
9:40: Report to your Body Fat Analysis in Salon E
10:00: Report to clinical screening (lab test) in the Rockville/Potomac room
10:20: Report to Ask the Professional in the Gaithersburg/Darnestown room
10:40: Report to Stress Management in the Frederick room
11:00: Free time to visit the exhibits in the Foyer across from Salons
11:20: Report to Tobacco Prevention/Cessation in the Bethesda room
11:40 Please go to Salons A, B, C for Dr. Davidson's presentation & lunch

(image: image of schedule)

• High school students for service learning hours
• Physicians
• Pharmacists
• Medical Students
• Psychologists
• Nutritionist
• Fitness Professionals

• All local hospitals
• African American Health Program
• Pedometer Table
• Fit Solution
• Legacy Foundation
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
• AMERIGROUP

(image: clip art of painting at gallery)

(image: photos of exhibit tables)

Saturday, April 1, 2006
Location: Gaithersburg Hilton
620 Perry Parkway
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Time: * 9:00 am – 1:30pm
* 8:00 early arrival option for lab work (Fasting suggested for accurate lab work)

African Americans are at greater risk of heart disease and have higher death rates from heart disease than whites. This symposium will provide information about heart disease risk factors and disease prevention. You may learn something that will save your life!

Features:

• Presentation by Dr. Patricia Davidson
• Blood pressure screenings
• Heart health lab work (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose)
• Body fat analysis
• Ask the professional panel
• Stress management
• Tobacco prevention/cessation information
• GIFTS AND PRIZES!

• Reservations are required!
• Reserve your spot - Call Christie Williams @ 240-777-1710 now - seating will be limited.
• You do not want to miss this event!! See you there!

The G.O.S.P.E.L. Program would like to acknowledge our wonderful partners that have made this event possible: African American Health Program, American Heart Association, AMERIGROUP Corporation, Dr. Patricia Davidson, Fit Solution, Holy Cross Hospital, Holy Cross Parish Nursing Program, Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services - Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, Montgomery General Hospital, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Suburban Hospital, Uniformed Services University Center for Health Disparities, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Washington Adventist Hospital.

(image: heart related drawings, Montgomery County, MD seal, and All-American Community logo)

(image: photos from G.O.S.P.E.L. event)

(image: photos of G.O.S.P.E.L. event)

(image: document titled "Participant Certificate")

• It was more informative than going to your private physician. It brought people together for the sake of learning and being appreciative of being alive – and we weren't at a funeral? (smile)
• Very organized. All of the professionals seemed knowledgeable. I gained good information that would impact me and my family for years to come.
• The length of each presentation was not too long. They were just long enough to really wet your appetite to make change.
• This entire expo exceeded my expectations in all areas! Keynote speaker, Dr. Davidson! – She broke things down in a very elementary but vivid, realistic way to get our attention – Excellent presentation!!! Dynamic!!!
• I think the information was much needed. Of course, I will take it back to my church community and do. I'm very concerned about health habits. Dr. Davidson said "you are what you eat," (last year's workshop) - and I've learned and have exercised portions, fruits and vegetables in my diet. "Thanks" I walk 30 min/s day a week. I've changed my eating habits since last time – losted 55 pounds (Thanks)
• Be more aware of my health and incorporate what I have learned to live a healthier life
• This would help me stay on course of changing lifestyle for the better. It helps to have someone else validate what you already know.
• I was directed to the right medical professions and had all of my questions answered.
• I'm still working on controlling HBP; the numbers are better than last year. I'm happy about the #'s, but I recognize it needs to be lower.
• The person who drew the blood was exceptional. Explanation about the cholesterol level was also very good.
• I thank Dr. Davidson for her enlightening showing and speech on heart disease. I will empower myself with discipline to refrain from legally killing myself.
• I learned how stress effects your body and ways to manage my stress levels.

Debbie Gold
Program Manager
Office of Health Promotion & Substance Abuse Prevention
Montgomery County Department of
Health & Human Services
debbie.gold@montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-1772