August 24, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tracy Gilford, Project Coordinator
Direct Phone: 720.579.2126
Email: [email protected]
The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC) Launches Form a Lifetime of Wellness (F.L.O.W) Cardiovascular Health Initiative
(DENVER, CO) – The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC) is proud to announce a new three-year health program initiative, Form a Lifetime of Wellness (F.L.O.W), made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC), Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. CBHC is a network of organizations in Denver committed to improving the health and wellness in Colorado’s Black, African and African American communities. The official launch of this initiative will take place during CBHC’s annual Black Health Expo/Family Reunion 2015 on August 29th at Manual High School beginning at 1pm. Through this initiative, CBHC will work closely with partner community-based organizations and clinical health providers to focus on improving cardiovascular health in Black/African American populations across the Denver Metro area, inclusive of Northwest Aurora, and increasing opportunities for chronic disease prevention, risk education and management through community and clinical linkages.
CBHC’s Form a Lifetime of Wellness (F.L.O.W) Network is comprised of community and clinical health providers committed to achieving the highest level of health equity in Colorado’s Black community. Designated FLOW sites will be located within neighborhoods such as Northeast Parkhill, Skyland, Cole, Montbello and Green Valley Ranch. Each site will feature opportunities for residents of these neighborhoods to receive blood pressure screenings and referrals to access care for a variety of health issues related to diet and nutrition, weight management, physical activity, smoking cessation, stress reduction and depression management. “We want all Black communities to be engaged in improving their cardiovascular health. Access to F.L.O.W. sites creates a culture of wellness in the Black community, breaking down cultural and linguistic barriers to bring wellness full circle”, said Thelma Craig, CBHC Chair & Program Manager for the REACH grant.
CBHC’s launch during the Black Health Expo/Family Reunion 2015 on August 29th at Manual High School includes free health screenings, meet and greeting with health providers, education, handouts, and wellness guidance, community baby shower, a bike rodeo, cycling demos, a cooking demonstration, and food from the soul of Black Americans, East and West Africans, and more! “This will be the beginning of forming a lifetime of OPTIMAL wellness, not just every day wellness but optimal wellness for life,” said Dr. Terri Richardson, MD CBHC’s Vice Chair & Project Director of the REACH grant. “We have all the resources we need in Colorado to be the healthiest Black folks in the nation”.
Thelma Craig and Dr. Terri Richardson are available for interviews upon request.