Healthy Behaviors and Choices (e.g. Fitness, Tobacco, Opioids, Nutrition)
Sharing Session - 30 Minutes
.png "Veronica Cosby, BS, MS, MAHS photo")
Veronica Cosby, BS, MS, MAHS
Virginia P3 Program Coordinator
Virginia Department of Health: Office of Health Equity
Veronica Cosby, BS, MS, MAHS
Virginia P3 Program Coordinator
Virginia Department of Health: Office of Health Equity
This session will explore how places of worship can leverage the power of communities to transform health outcomes. Understanding health equity, the social determinants of health, and health disparities can shape the work faith-based communities are doing to improve health and health outcomes. These objectives are highlighted in the efforts of the Virginia Partners In Prayer and Prevention program. This initiative has taken the proven clinical medicine practices model ECHO (Economic, Clinical, and Humanistic Outcomes), and applied it to community engagement and a health education model approach amongst faith and interfaith communities, to improve health equity. Working together to create change in communities through collaboration and facilitating partnerships between communities, faith, and interfaith organizations, local business, local agencies, and the state public health agency are key to building healthier, connected communities.