Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application/pdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=MDT-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline;+filename=2012-AstraZeneca-HealthCare-Foundation-Annual-Report

Losing to Gain
African American and Latino residents of Boston
face increased risk factors of cardiovascular
disease including obesity, lack of exercise,
poor nutrition, stress, and high blood pressure. 1
The Connections for Cardiovascular Care
program works to connect African Americans,
Latinos, immigrants, and ESL speakers living
in and around public housing in Roxbury, MA.
The program is dedicated to serving those
community members who have hypertension with
comprehensive chronic care management to instill
behavior change.
Whittier strives to provide optimal care
to members of the community, especially
underserved and minority communities who
are at risk or suffer from cardiovascular
disease, hypertension, and other related
chronic diseases. The Foundation grant allows
us to provide our patients with comprehensive
cardiovascular screening and access to care,
while also reaching those whom may have
otherwise gone untreated due to healthcare
cost and accessibility. We greatly appreciate
their support.
– Frederica M. Williams, President & CEO,
Whittier Street Health Center
SUMMARY
GRANT AWARDEE: Whittier Street
Health Center
GOAL: To improve access to cardiovascular
education, screenings, and care through
community-based interventions for African
American and Latino residents of Boston.
AREA OF FOCUS: Roxbury, MA
2012 GRANT AWARD: $150,000
TOTAL GRANT AWARD(S): $309,574
In addition to the 51 community outreaches
conducted in 2012, participants were recruited
and tracked through educational workshops
and one-on-one nutritional counseling. In 2012,
65 participants lost more than 420 pounds by
improving their diet, exercising, and adhering to
their self-management goals. In addition, clinical
measures were monitored closely, and at the
end of 2012, 95% of tracked participants (123
participants out of the 130) had well-controlled
blood pressure after intensive cardiovascular health
education and case management. The program
credits personal connections between the Whittier
Street Health Center and the community as a key
to instilling behavioral change. The Connections
for Cardiovascular Care program has received
two consecutive years of funding from the CCH
program, totaling $309,574 to date.
1
Boston Public Health Commission
27