Whittier Street Health Center has been funded by the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation through the Connections for Cardiovascular Health^SM program, which provides annual grants of $150,000 and up to US-based nonprofit organizations engaged in improving cardiovascular health in their communities. Whittier received its first grant from the Foundation in 2011 and its second in 2012.

The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation has released its 2012 Annual Report. The excerpt below describes Whittier’s work:

“Whittier strives to provide optimal care to members of the community, especially underserved and minority communities who are at risk or suffer from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and other related chronic diseases. The Foundation grant allows us to provide our patients with comprehensive cardiovascular screening and access to care, while also reaching those whom may have otherwise gone untreated due to healthcare cost and accessibility. We greatly appreciate their support.”

– Frederica M. Williams, President & CEO, Whittier Street Health Center

SUMMARY
GRANT AWARDEE: Whittier Street Health Center
GOAL: To improve access to cardiovascular education, screenings, and care through community-based interventions for African American and Latino residents of Boston.
AREA OF FOCUS: Roxbury, MA
2012 GRANT AWARD: $150,000
TOTAL GRANT AWARD(S): $309,574

African American and Latino residents of Boston face increased risk factors of cardiovascular disease including obesity, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, stress, and high blood pressure (Boston Public Health Commission). The Connections for Cardiovascular Care program works to connect African Americans, Latinos, immigrants, and ESL speakers living in and around public housing in Roxbury, MA. The program is dedicated to serving those community members who have hypertension with comprehensive chronic care management to instill behavior change.

In addition to the 51 community outreaches conducted in 2012, participants were recruited and tracked through educational workshops and one-on-one nutritional counseling. In 2012, 65 participants lost more than 420 pounds by improving their diet, exercising, and adhering to their self-management goals. In addition, clinical measures were monitored closely, and at the end of 2012, 95% of tracked participants (123 participants out of the 130) had well-controlled blood pressure after intensive cardiovascular health education and case management. The program credits personal connections between the Whittier Street Health Center and the community as a key to instilling behavioral change. The Connections for Cardiovascular Care program has received two consecutive years of funding from the CCH program, totaling $309,574 to date.

Source: AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation. Connections for Cardiovascular Health^SM. Supporting Communities Through Health Connections 2012 Annual Report. Page 27.

Click here to read the full report.