A nationally-recognized, faith-based physical activity and health promotion program that helps individuals adopt healthy lifestyles and manage chronic diseases is re-launching and extending its services to the African American and Latino communities in Monroe County.
The Healthy Living Program is directed by the University of Rochester Medical Center's (URMC) Center for Community Healthin partnership with the Greater Rochester YMCA, and represents a unique grassroots approach to prevention. The program – which was developed with broad input from physicians, health systems, health insurance companies, the county government, and non-profit and community-based organizations – builds upon existing support networks within the African-American and Latino faith community to identify and recruit participants, host sessions, and create an supportive environment that encourages individuals to make meaningful and lasting changes in their health.
“Racial and ethnic disparities in health indicators and growing rates of obesity and diabetes in adults represent some of the greatest public health challenges we face as a community,” said Nancy M. Bennett, M.D., M.S. , director of the Center for Community Health . “This innovative approach to prevention that has been embraced by Rochester 's faith community gives people the tools to set goals and make changes in their lives that will lead to better health.”