Faith-Based African American Health Network

Creating a communication and support infrastructure to engage the African American community and reduce health disparities

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Full Project Name:Faith-Based African American Health NetworkPrimary Community Organization:Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc.Primary Academic Partner:Earnestine Willis, MD, MPH, PediatricsAward Amount:$396,289

Award Date

July2007

Project Duration:36 months

Project Description Narrative:

African Americans are disproportionately impacted in many of the socioeconomic and community factors that influence health in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin’s communities. Nearly one-third of African Americans in Milwaukee have lived in poverty, and the city’s’ racial disparity in poverty is twice as high as the national average.

This project will establish a communication network supporting emergency preparedness for urban low-income populations with limited assets to control their fate in circumstances of health crises. Focusing on emergency preparedness and preventing associated health and mortality risks, the project will also distribute health information and provide opportunities for discussion on major health risks. Project partners aim to transform the public health system by building community capacity to effectively participate in addressing health issues from planning to evaluation.

Community partner: City of Milwaukee Health Department