REACH

Creighton University's Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity was awarded a 3 year Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Basic grant totaling $1,478,778 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This grant is part of a new model being utilized in reducing health disparities in racial and ethnic communities.  Creighton University's Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (CPHHE-REACH) program engages with community-based agencies within the African-American community in Omaha (Douglas County), Nebraska.

The intent of the collaborative agreement is to educate, develop, and implement policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) improvements that are conducive to healthier lifestyle choices resulting in an ultimate reduction in chronic disease within the African-American/Black community.  The initiative specifically aims to encourage and promote physical activity in the African-American community of Omaha.

Specific sites include four African-American/Black churches, five public housing towers, four middle schools, and in the local community health and surrounding neighborhood.  The partnering agencies involved in this collaboration are Charles Drew Health Center, Creighton School of Medicine, Collective for Youth c/o Creighton Health Science Multicultural and Community Affairs, Douglas County Health Department, Nebraska Centers for Healthy Families, and Omaha Housing Authority.