The Palmetto Health District: Promoting Healthy Congregations Project

In 2002, the South Carolina Cardiovascular Health Program provided funding and training to eight health districts to implement cardiovascular health projects in collaboration with local community partners. Each of the eight districts sponsored activities and training designed to create heart-healthy policies and environmental supports in African American communities. The Palmetto Health District: Promoting Healthy Congregations Project focuses on increasing heart-healthy policy and environmental supports in faith-based organizations. The project is developing a community asset map to identify strengths, assets, and resources within the community; creating a community-wide media campaign (including print and broadcast channels) to increase awareness about high blood pressure and the signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke; and conducting CVD interventions that create policy and environmental changes to help make members of the church more heart-healthy. Churches and faith organizations select and implement specific policies and environmental strategies appropriate to their needs that address high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition.

The goal of this program is to help prevent cardiovascular disease through education and interventions.

In South Carolina, African Americans are at an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke across all age and socioeconomic groups. Efforts to focus on this population through local community partners should result in strong social support for policy and environmental interventions that encourage heart-healthy behaviors.