Increasing social connectedness among urban African American women through community-led health initiatives The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan Sandra Waddell RN, BSN National Kidney Foundation of Michigan 1169 Oak Valley Drive Ann Arbor, MI Phone: (734) Web: This program is being supported with funding from the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and grant # 1CCEWH from the HHS/Office on Women’s Health Background Objective Method Results Conclusions Acknowledgements Inkster, Michigan is an urban community in Metro Detroit where diverse partners, including organizations and community members, came together to form a health coalition that addressed health inequities through an ecological framework centered on increasing social connectedness. A Gender Based Analysis (GBA) revealed striking disparities in the health and social status of African American women in this community:  Gender roles impact on women’s health  Lack of access to resources  Chronic Disease Self-Management  Health Literacy  Social Connectedness To increase women's capacity and resources to practice diabetes self- management behaviors, navigate the health care system, and enhance social connectedness through lifestyle coaching and mentoring. Innovative health promotion initiatives were developed with the goal of increased social connectedness among urban African American women. Evidenced-based lifestyle change and health literacy programs were implemented over five years in addition to strategies to improve health care access and delivery. Environmental and policy changes were developed as a result of the coalition work pertaining to gender roles and obesity, physical activity, healthy eating, diabetes self-management, chronic disease self-management, diabetes prevention and health literacy. Implementing supports for increased social connectedness for women revealed demonstrated successes in addressing health disparities through implementation of evidence-based community programs.  240 Women completed Chronic Disease Self- Management classes  514 Women completed Enhance Fitness classes  299 Women completed Health Literacy classes  435 Women completed Body Works classes  14 Policy changes developed Despite multiple ongoing community- level stressors, women in this urban community have experienced improvements in social connectedness with implications for better health outcomes. Individual - Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors Interpersonal - Individual, relationships, support groups, social networks and cultural context Organizational- Rules, regulations, policies and formal structures Community – Social Networks, Norms and Standards Public Policy – Federal, state, local policies to regulate/support healthy actions Reference: McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Education & Behavior, 15(4),