Glencrest Neighborhood Association

TRAINED AS CONGREGATIONAL/COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTERS

Feb 13, 2004

NEWS RELEASE FOR RELEASE:



CONTACT: CHRISTENE CHADWICK MOSS, DIRECTOR
JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL SSC
817) 920-7150 OFC
817) 228-3267 PAGER


LESLIE BIRDSONG, NURSE EDUCATOR
JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL, SSC
817) 921-3431 OFC
817 930-7335 PAGER




TRAINED AS CONGREGATIONAL/COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTERS


Rochelle Hall and Brenda Davis residents of Fort Worth Texas and members of the First Greater New Hope Baptist Church, are now certified as Congregational / Community Health Promoters by the City of Fort Worth Public Health Department.

Rochelle and Brenda completed a training program to become Congregational / Community Health Promoters to help identify health concerns and other issues within their organizations / communities and be involved in developing solutions to address those concerns.

The Congregational / Community Health Promoter program was started in Atlanta, Georgia, through the Carter Center?’s Interfaith Health Program. Through the program, lay volunteers from within congregations are trained to act as ?“Health Promoters?”. Nurses from the City of Forth Worth Public Health Department (CFWPH) Outreach Division, were trained to utilize this model in their population based public health efforts. The program was modified to reach secular groups as well as faith based congregations in 1999. CHP?’s come from inter faith groups, apartment complex managers, and public housing representatives.

Following the training, the CHP?’s work to identify the needs of their areas and find appropriate resources to meet those needs. Projects may include linking with agencies to set up health screenings, flu shots for seniors, starting a walking group, or working on a specific prevention program. The nurses in the Outreach Division provide continuing education and health issue updates, consultation on problems, and continued support for CHP efforts. The CHP?’s, in turn, act as a web of support throughout the city. They are a valuable resource in times of crisis. More than this, they are the ?“eye and ears?” of the Public Health Department, helping to make our community a safe and healthy place to live.



For more information on how you can become part of this program call 817 ?–207-0556 or email murphb@ci.fort-worth.tx.us