Partnerships between Health Care and Faith-Based Organizations

Historically, health disparity research has consistently shown marked differences in health outcomes among racial/ethnic groups and the poor. When compared to Whites, African American, Latinos, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indians and low-income populations have higher rates of death for all causes, are less likely to have insurance, make fewer visits to the doctor and tend to self-report poorer health status. These trends are cause for natural alarm. Indeed, reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities in health has been identified by the National Institutes of Health as a major priority for public health and research for the twenty-first century.

Achieving greater equity in health outcomes and the distribution of health services is a daunting challenge facing health departments, communities and this nation as a whole. While it is critically important to accurately document health disparities, the real challenge lies in determining the underlying causes of those inequities as affected by policies both within and beyond the public health sector. These causes include poverty, income disparities, racism and discrimination, stress, poor housing, inadequate education, lack of transportation, poor living and working conditions, and lack of social support and community cohesion.

The Living Waters Inc Faith-Health Initiatives through collaboration with the faith-based and health communities will look at health disparity literatures and other sources of information, discuss what is known, and identify some of the most promising approaches to reducing racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in health. Our purpose is to make recommendations to the local Public Health Departments on ways in which it might work better to reduce health disparities and be effective in its community efforts.

Mission: To mobilize people and resources to move closer in thinking about health, acting to improve health and partnering with our communities in entirely new ways to reduce racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes.

Program Objectives

• Community capacity building
• Sharing and utilizing health-related information to develop and support health enhancing policies and programs for the communities
• Behavioral Interventions
• Improving access to quality and culturally competent health care
• Strengthening the public health infrastructure
• Addressing health determinants, including social determinants of health
• Access to nutritious food
• Health and Fitness Education/ Media Campaigns