Healthy Hearts in Housing Graduates
18 for CVD Work in Public Housing

Eighteen proud public housing residents, with uplifted self-esteem, graduated from a new Community Health Worker (CHW) training program at an emotion-filled ceremony held at Pleasant View Gardens, one of Baltimore's Hope VI public housing communities. The tone of the event was jubilant as students marched into the auditorium to "I Believe I Can Fly." Baltimore Field Office Director Harold D. Young served as Master of Ceremonies. The Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, a registered nurse and State Delegate, spoke to the new graduates about the importance of education and the glaring disparity in health care access for African Americans.

The graduates were elated! Wonderful expressions of gratitude were heard ringing through the auditorium including "It's like receiving the Academy Award," "It's the best day of my life," "It is a spiritual day" and "This is such an honor!" Over 200 community leaders, government officials and public housing residents attended the CHW Graduation Ceremony. Four of the graduates: Dennis McRae, Juanita Green, Robyn Downs and Andrea Jackson have been hired by the CVD project to promote CVD health in public housing. And, there is a chance that the CVD project will be replicated in public housing communities throughout Maryland.

Robinson Fullwood, PHD, Senior Manager for NIH, gave high praise to the graduates and to the project. He also recognized Lenee Simon, NIH Staff person, for her leadership as a project manager and for her vision and support of the Healthy Hearts in Housing project. Four community health workers-Dorothory Lowery, Kevin Williams, Aisha Samuels and Jennifer Joyner-gave inspirational presentations on behalf of the graduates.

Dr. Yvonne Bronner, Director of the Public Health Program at Morgan, gave a very motivational talk to the graduates followed by Dr. Ronald Hearn, Vice President of the Baltimore Community College. Dr. Hearn pledged his on-going support of the project and the community health workers by agreeing to facilitate their continuing education through GED classes, testing and counseling. The CHW's received their training from the Baltimore City Community College's Harbor Campus. The training's first phase dealt with core competencies of team building, creative problem solving, effective listening, customer service and pubic speaking. The curriculum's second phase included vital signs, blood pressure reading, pulse, respiration, Body Mass Index, CPR and cardiovascular health education. The CHW's became certified in blood pressure screening.

Baltimore's Housing Authority receive a grant of $450,000 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), thanks to a partnership with Morgan State University's Public Health Program, the City's Department of Parks and Recreation, and HUD's Baltimore Office. Through the vision and coordination of Carol Payne, Operations Specialist at Baltimore HUD, the grant was awarded to develop a community specific cardiovascular health program in Baltimore City's public housing communities featuring blood pressure screening, cardiovascular disease education and other public health interventions. An integral goal was also to train community health workers to provide individual and group education and prevention activities in the areas of physical exercise, nutrition, smoking cessation and other areas of cardiovascular health.

For information, contact: Carol B. Payne (carol_b._payne@hud.gov) by calling (410) 962-2520 ext. 3062.

Content Archived: February 15, 2011