Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)
Creighton University’s Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity (CPHHE) received Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) funding for the period of 2023-2028 to improve health, prevent and ameliorate chronic disease, and reduce health disparities in Blacks/African Americans (11.1% of the population) and Hispanics/Latinx (13.5% of the population) living in Douglas County, Nebraska.
CPHHE will implement four strategies, including:
- Component A: nutrition, physical activity, continuity of care breastfeeding support for families
- Component B: adult vaccinations
A strong coalition of partners will support the implementation, evaluation and refinement of REACH 2 operations. Community partners will implement strategies, activities, and policy and environmental changes. A team of Community Health Workers and Lay Health Ambassadors will implement activities among the two priority populations.
CPHHE-REACH 2 will positively impact the health of up to 143,738 members of the priority populations who disproportionately experience health disparities and contributors when compared to the total population (584,526).
Four REACH Strategies
Provide training for volunteer lay health ambassadors to demonstrate a healthy meal and/or snack (4 training session per year, training 24 ambassadors); identify a location to implement healthy vending (2 per year); establish alternatives to fresh food farmers’ markets (food boxes, community gardens, and urban farm stands) (2 per year); build capacity for farm-to-table promotion of fresh produce and identify neighborhood grocery stores to implement the model (2 per year); increase vendors (4 total) offering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Fresh Food Bonus Bucks (FFBB) incentive program; and increase support for breastfeeding moms in 8 focus areas through policies, systems, and environmental changes.
Promote physical fitness activity in public housing units through policy, system, and environmental improvements (12 units annually); promote physical activity, nutrition, and breastfeeding support (24 churches per year); build residents’ capacity to select active transportation; and encourage students and adults’ increased identification and use of safe and active transport routes (2 schools per year and 4 “safe” routes for increased access to physical activity).
Policy, system and environmental changes that promote and educate on breastfeeding (15 churches). Integrate Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support as health improvement strategies in six (6) churches/faith-based organizations annually. Conduct environmental scans/health needs assessments in 15 churches annually to create PSE recommendations that improve continuity of care in breastfeeding support.
Review the results of the environmental scan/needs assessments completed in Year 1 using the Community Assessment Tool to address the obstacles to COVID-19, Flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine uptake; including vaccine hesitancy and barriers to successful deployment of evidence-based strategies for improving vaccine uptake at Ten (10) faith-based organizations, Eleven (11) Omaha Housing Authority Towers and Four (4) Community Based Organizations.
LET'S MOVE, LET'S REACH: Physical Activity Day
Creighton's annual LET’S MOVE, LET’S REACH Physical Activity Day is free to the public, with fitness and well-being events for children and adults of all ages. The community is invited to join us for the 8th annual LET’S MOVE, LET’S REACH Physical Activity Day.
This event is free to the public, with fitness and well-being events for children and adults of all ages. Activities will include: one mile walk/run, group fitness, drill teams, basketball, kids zone, and much more. Beyond creating an enjoyable day for residents to have fun and visit with friends and families, this event is a positive way to celebrate the community spirit of North Omaha and learn more about the value of physical activity in reducing the risk of chronic disease and improving quality of life.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard L. Brown by email at RichardBrown@creighton.edu or phone at 402.306.7158.
Our Community Partners
