Health for a Lifetime

Topics	Children Faith-based Health promotion and disease prevention Minorities
States served	Georgia
Description	The Health for a Lifetime project was designed to combat cardiovascular disease in Lowndes County by addressing the modifiable risk factors, as described by the American Heart Association, in three populations: hourly wage workers, the African American faith community, and middle school children. The consortium partner members included representatives from eight local and national health care service providers, businesses, churches, schools, and universities.
Services offered	Services provided to achieve project objectives included: • Comprehensive wellness programs that targeted cardiovascular disease through health screening and education, motivation, and intervention programs conducted in 16 local businesses • Permanent church-based clinics that focused on cardiovascular disease prevention in 10 African American churches • A school nurse clinic in a local middle school that served 700 students and provided education programs promoting healthy lifestyles
Results	Although the original proposal strove to achieve a number or percentage of participants who would actually change their behavior to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, this early estimation did not consider the amount of time needed to effect these changes. Therefore, outcome goals were modified during the project to reflect movement through the change process. At least 85 percent of the participants surveyed stated that participation in the wellness programs had influenced at least some positive behavior change or had positively affected their attitude toward adopting a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, the project met most of the process objectives dealing with providing health education programs at businesses, churches, and schools.
Replication	The Health for a Lifetime model is ideally suited for rural communities. In fact, larger communities may have greater difficulties unifying community stakeholders around disease prevention strategies. To achieve successful outcomes, a community must be able to bring together community stakeholders; adequate funds to effect change must be present in the community; proper models must be thoroughly researched and utilized; and competent trained staff must have the proper background and understanding of behavior change and health promotion to facilitate the programs.
Source	Outreach Sourcebook, Vol. 9, 1999-2002, Office of Rural Health Policy
Contact person	John Sparks, Executive Director Lowndes County Partnership For Health P.O. Box 1782 Valdosta, GA 31603 Phone: (229) 245-0020 Fax: (229) 245-9855 E-mail: johnsparks@bellsouth.net
Date added	July 7, 2005

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