A.C.T.S. OF F.A.I.T.H. APHA Annual Meeting 11/04/15 Marie Rule Gilliam, Executive Director

Presenter Disclosures (1)The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: Marie Rule Gilliam No relationships to disclose

A.C.T.S. OF F.A.I.T.H. Actions Connected To Spirituality: Forming Alliances In Transforming Health Dawnavan S. Davis, PhD, MS - Founder

Who Are We?  Non-profit 501(c)3 organization  Improve health outcomes of African Americans  Reduce and eliminate racial health disparities  Focused on Chicago’s South Side and beyond  Partnerships: faith institutions - community - health organizations  Support faith institutions in transforming community health and wellness among African Americans

Mission Statement  The mission of A.C.T.S. of F.A.I.T.H. is to unite and mobilize faith institutions and to empower individuals and communities to pursue an active role in promoting and creating wellness on the South Side of Chicago

We Engage in Initiatives That:  Cause behavioral changes (long term)  Enable a continuing improvement after the "program money" runs out  Ensure medical follow up for the participants  Effectively involve in CBPR to stay informed

Member Faith Institutions Blooming Rose Deliverance Church Carter Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Faith Community of St. Sabina Grace Apostolic Church Langley Avenue Church of God Life Center COGIC Metropolitan Community Church Mount Calvary Baptist Church New Beginnings Church Oakdale Covenant Church St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church Salem Baptist Church Tabernacle of God COGIC Trinity United Church of Christ Urban Village Church Williams Memorial Temple COGIC

Board of Directors  Caswell A. Evans, DDS, MPH – Board President  Rev. Herbert Lassiter – Vice President  Chris E. Eze, MD, MBA - Treasurer  Tonya S. Roberson - Secretary  Rev. Jacqueline Triche Atkins, J.D. - Board Member  Glenda Burnett, PhD - Board Member  Anthony Sam, Esq. - Board Member  LouEster Petty, BS, Ed - Co-Chair, Working Group  Catherine Strong, RN, MSN - Chair, Working Group

Working Group  1 or more representatives from each Faith Institution  Other interested individuals from the community  Working Group members are chosen by the PASTOR  Usually, a member of the Health Ministry or Clergy

Current and Past Initiatives  Restart4Health  Smarthealth Chicago  MEND (Mind Exercise Nutrition Do It) 7-13  Prime Time Sister Circles®  PHEN (Prostate Health Education Network) Annual Father’s Day Rally  American Heart Association Heart 360® Get to Goal - Hypertension Program  Spiritual Care Advocate model at University of Chicago Medicine

Strengths  Multi-denominational  CBPR approach  Over 60,000 congregants  Potential community impact – over 500,000 lives  Active group with direct linkage inside of the congregation  Support of Clergy Leadership  Successful programs with demonstrated behavioral change

Weaknesses  Funding  Competing agendas  Changing residential status of church membership  Neighborhood climate dictating church function

Why Do We Keep Going?  Staggering disparities in health and disease  The Black Church remains beacon of light and hope  Community and church need to remain at the table  A perfect world

Initial Areas of Focus  Diabetes  Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) / Heart Disease  Obesity  Stroke  Arthritis

South Side of Chicago  42 community areas  Home to over 1.5 million residents  87% African American  Some of the highest rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, crime, & poverty in the state & nation

Still Work to Do……

Gun Violence

Food Deserts and Lack of Healthy Food Options on the South Side

“ ” I want to be healthy, so I can____________ What’s YOUR answer? We are asking everyone we meet!

For More Information, contact us at: 1803 W. 95th St., #235 Chicago, IL /