Closing The Gap
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Closing The Gap
About the Program
Since June of 2014, Big Bend AHEC has been a provider of the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health & Health Equity Closing the Gap Grant Program. Big Bend AHEC’s program model is centered on training Community Health Workers (CHW) in Leon, Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor Counties to provide free biometric screenings to ethnic minority individuals residing in these 3 counties. Additionally, we provide free health education classes and healthy cooking demonstrations. The free health screenings include:
Blood Pressure · BMI · Cholesterol · Hemoglobin A1c · Tobacco Referrals
This program is designed to assist individuals that may lack access to primary care, are uninsured, or are underinsured so that they can learn more about their risks for developing chronic disease and certain cancers.
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Closing The Gap
Community Health Workers
CHWs are community members who work almost exclusively in community settings and promote health among groups that have traditionally lacked access to adequate care. The roles of CHWs are to provide culturally appropriate health education; assure people get the services they need; give information about illnesses and how to prevent them; and teach the basics about common health problems.
- Documented benefits include improved health outcomes and lower costs
- Reduction of emergency room and hospital visits
- Decreased barriers to medical care
- Increased trust between clients and the health care delivery system
- Timely use of services and better compliance