Healthy Behaviors and Choices (e.g. Fitness, Tobacco, Opioids, Nutrition)
Sharing Session - 60 Minutes
Malaika Brewer, MA
Office of Health Equity Promotion Director
Columbus Public Health
Inequities in health are commonly recognized as avoidable and unjust occurrences, whereby low-income groups systematically suffer from worse health outcomes such as lower life expectancy than non-low-income groups. Engaging members of low-income communities in public health initiatives has been suggested as a way to reduce health inequities. One of the ways that Columbus Public Health (CPH) seeks to do this, is through its Neighborhood Health Ambassador (NHA) Initiative. NHAs are trained community volunteers that advocate for addressing public health issues and promoting healthy behaviors and choices. This session will cover how CPH's Office of Health Equity Promotion (OHEP):
• Trains and equips NHAs in impacted Columbus neighborhoods to help spread important health information in the neighborhoods they serve and relay community concerns back to CPH;
• provides evidence-based resources NHAs can utilize to inform their neighbors on emerging public health issues and concerns; and
• monitors and evaluates success of the initiative.