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HEALTH
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In February 2002 the
Partnership of African American Churches kicked off its
Health Initiative by holding the first in a series of
church based training classes for Lay Health Workers. The
initiative is founded on the belief that congregational
members trained by subject specific health professionals
and given minimal funding can create changes that will
empower and positively affect lives in our communities for
generations to come.
This was the first step in PAAC’s efforts to build a
statewide network of Health and Wellness Coordinators. The
Coordinators receive training and support which enable
them to conduct health ministries in their local
congregations. Some of the local activities birthed
through this initiative are Healthy Sundays, exercise and
swimming classes, chronic disease self-management
workshops, tobacco awareness and cessation programs,
community gardens, medication reviews, healthy cooking
classes, health symposiums and numerous other ministries
geared toward maintaining and improving life in our
congregational communities.
The PAAC Health Initiative currently encompasses 17
Churches with 25 trained Wellness Coordinators in 6
Counties (Kanawha, Cabell, Raleigh, Fayette, Logan and
Mingo). |
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