Health Promotion and Empowerment Programs
Health by developing an awareness of the importance of good health – making it a top priority.
Education on the particulars of health issues that impact the Black Community.
Action speaks to CBHC’s quest to not just talk about things but help move knowledge to action.
Taking it to the streets so that information and activities are shared with the Community.
The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC) Programs bringing the HEAT to the Community.
Please see a description of the programs listed below.
Health Forums
CBHC conducts quarterly Forums on various topics. The cornerstones of our Forums and all
that we do involve educating the Community about…
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- Fundamental issues impacting health.
- Specific disease states.
- Social determinants that dictate health outcomes.
- Healthy eating and active living.
- Empowering children and families to live healthier lives, in their home environment.
At each Forum, CBHC strives to model healthy behaviors in all of our activities and functions. During 3rd quarter of each year CBHC hosts its annual “Family Reunion” Forum. This Forum stresses physical activity while capturing the elements of age-old family reunions. During the Forums we utilize our proven model of hands-on learning and self-determination, to inform, educate, build awareness, and initiate behavior change in our target audience, as well as the networks they serve. The Forums are designed to demonstrate health and wellness in culturally proficient ways. Additionally, the Forums offer opportunities for health advocates to network and combine their community outreach efforts and projects; to increase interaction between potential partners and targeted audiences; and to disseminate and enhance the reach of the information beyond direct participants.
At the Forums CBHC empowers Community Members to be active participants in managing their health by acquiring knowledge and having confidence to be an advocate for you own health and well-being.
Speaker’s Bureau
Speaker’s Bureau CBHC has a cadre of experts in various health and social determinant subject matters who are available upon request to share with the Community. Presentations are made at local colleges, churches, civic and other organizations on a variety of topics. The overall goal is to raise public awareness about CBHC, increase visibility, increase public understanding about health disparities and other disease states affecting the Community.
Student Mentorship-Internship Program
The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC) is passionate about connecting with future health care professionals to serve the community. Our goal is to have health care providers that understand the health disparities that exist in our community, are culturally proficient, and community-oriented. We know that starting early is key. To achieve our goal, CBHC mentors and supports high school and college students who are interested in a health profession. We engage with the students in multiple ways, including speaker’s bureau, networking meetings, providing volunteer opportunities, and special Community health-related projects.
CBHC provides opportunities for public health, medical, and other graduate students to connect with members of the community to work on outreach projects/activities that address health/social determinant disparities in the Black/African American Community. Examples of projects and activities include the following:
- Focus Groups: Culturally Competent Care in the clinical setting, Tackling Menthol
- Community Asset Mapping
- Annual Barbershop/Salon Power Saturday(s) Blood Pressure Data Analysis and Reporting
- Effectiveness of Health Ministry Toolkit
The Barbershop & Salon Program
“Hair is tight! Pressure is right!!”
The BBSHOP was started in 2012. Eleven years later, we are proud to say that we have screened nearly 10,000 people for high blood pressure. We started with one shop and now we have fourteen shops. We have some great shops that we are partnering with to improve the health of the our community. The support of the owners and their clients makes our volunteer work easy and extremely rewarding. Our volunteers and students help us to provide this valuable service. The overarching areas of focus for the program are SCREENING, EDUCATION, and REFERRAL. We primarily screen for high blood pressure, using automated cuffs. About 20% of those screened have stage 2 (highest stage) of high blood pressure. Some of the highest blood pressures we have recorded were in the relatively young – early to mid thirties.
We educate the operators and clients. We let them know that hypertension/high blood pressure is a very treatable disease. It can be a silent killer. First, you have to know you gave it. Get your blood pressure checked. Then it needs to be treated. Treatment involves lifestyle changes and many times taking medication.
We refer clients to a health care provider or clinic. If clients don’t have a provider we give them information on private doctors, nurse practitioners, or clinics that they can reach out to. Clients often ask about Black doctors.
Project HairCare
Change the Stories around mental health in the Shops!
Project HairCare (PHC) is a new component developed in December 2022. PHC was added to help address mental health challenges that operators note among clients in the shops. For more information go to the PHC website: projecthaircare.com.
Get your Barbershop or Salon Involved!
The Barbershop and Salon Health Outreach Program Toolkit (Toolkit) was a collaborative effort between the Colorado Black Health Collaborative and the Kaiser Permanente African American Center of Excellence (AACE) in 2015. The Toolkit is designed to empower community health workers, clinicians, and volunteers to launch, sustain, and monitor the success of an effective barbershop and salon outreach program. This type of program can cost “dimes” to start and sustain, but there certainly are examples of programs that have had millions dedicated to this worthwhile endeavor.
This how-to- guide:
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- Describes the reason for the outreach
- Health Disparities Gives the inside view of the shops
- Culture Reviews the history of health initiatives in shops
- Walks users through the logistics of starting, running, and marketing a program
- Provides volunteer training materials
- Gives pointers on analyzing data, preserving experiences, and creating annual reports
- Provides an ample list of resources and an evaluation
Barbershop & Salon Program Contacts
Barbershop/Salon Schedules
CBHC Administration
Program Lead
Terri Richardson, MD & Roline Milfort
Volunteer Coordinator
CBHC Administration
The FLOW Program is an initiative started in 2015 by The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC) in our quest to be the healthiest folks in the nation. FLOW is a comprehensive prevention program serving as a focal point to inform, educate, assess and refer individuals and families to care for their cardiovascular/heart health.
CBHC’s goal is to address the complex needs of the communities we serve through the development and implementation of culturally appropriate programs that are uniquely designed to engage our stakeholders while continuing to expand our network of partners and collaborative relationships.
Through the F.L.O.W Program, CBHC will provide tools, resources, and information to empower YOU to make good health choices and to advocate for yourself and your family in the health environment.
F.L.O.W. Directory.
This directory designates F.L.O.W. Sites across Metro Denver. It is a network of community and clinical providers that serve as facilitators to connect Black/African Americans to critical preventive treatment and care. YOU can search the F.L.O.W Directory here
#Shoyoflow
Is a social media campaign of the F.L.O.W. Program. This component is a periodic campaign featuring health activities in which participants are engaged. This is designed to be motivational for participants as well as others that are observing the posts.
FLOWDenver.org Micro-site
Check out the site @ www.FLOWDenver.org for the latest Newsletters and Health Tips, as well as cardiovascular/health specific information and resources.
F.L.O.W. Health Insurance Literacy Project
Is designed to help understand the health insurance literacy needs of our community and to develop trusted, culturally influenced, and understandable materials for the community. The developed materials will inform, educate, and motivate the community.
CBHC Committee Opportunities
The Colorado Black Health Collaborative is currently organized into committees, each serving it’s own function while working toward a common goal. That goal is to improve health and wellness in Colorado’s Black, African, and African American communities through collaborations and partnerships with community based organizations, non-profits, public organizations, private entities and government agencies.
Apply to Become a Member
Membership Committees
Cultural Networking Committee
Gather and disseminate information about health, wellness events and projects throughout the BLACK Community in Colorado.
The Education Committee
Create an ongoing educational campaign to increase public awareness of health initiatives and educational health resources in the BLACK Community.
Health Access Committee
Empower the BLACK Community by enhancing awareness about health policies, processes, and practices.
The Membership Committee
Membership development through recruitment, retention and member and volunteer tracking.
Planning and Evaluation Committee
Provide strategic planning and collaborative engagement of the CBHC with community stakeholders, activists, and advocates.