Norfolk, Va.—The Obici Healthcare Foundation has awarded Norfolk State University a $149,878 grant to fund the Let’s Get Realprogram, a faith-based initiative designed to lower risks for heart disease in African-American families. 

NSU and its partners will implement this health promotion and disease prevention program in Suffolk and Surry County, both of which are a part of OHF’s service area.  Collaborating organizations include Bon Secours Hampton Roads, the Omega chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Metropolitan Baptist Church and East End Baptist Church. 

An epidemiological study sanctioned by Bon Secours Hampton Roads revealed that African-American women, closely followed by their male counterparts, have the highest death rate from heart disease in a contiguous eight-state region.  With this in mind, the Let’s Get Real program will use the Let’s Get Real model, which was developed by BSHR, and a mental health initiative pioneered by NSU’s Department of Nursing to provide a valuable, multi-faceted health promotion program that is culturally specific and grounded in proven methods of disease prevention. 

The grant, which is funded over a two year period beginning October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2009, will expose 1,600 churchgoers to heart-healthy messages.  Participants will have the opportunity to participate in the following:

• Cookin’ Light – Nutrition classes provide healthy twists to traditional soul food and fast food dishes.  Presenters include chefs trained at Johnson and Wales University.  Participants receive hands-on cooking demonstrations to prepare healthy meals where churches are transformed into classrooms.  The overarching theme of the nutrition component, Cookin’ Light, emphasizes the importance of preparing meals at home.
• Check Yourself – Health screenings that measure body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels.
• Rhythm of Life – This exercise program blends African dance movements and gospel music into an aerobic workout.
• Tree of Life – This program uses genealogy and culturally based practices of oral storytelling to help participants identify the diseases prevalent in their families.
• REACH – Norfolk State University students conduct workshops that address topics such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorder and substance abuse.

Let’s Get Real uses a train-the-trainer model where health professionals teach members of their church congregation about improving their overall health.  Additionally, quantitative and qualitative measuring tools will be used to track participant progress. 

“Though Let’s Get Real is a culturally appropriate health promotion model that taps into the attitudes, values and beliefs of African Americans, the entire community is welcome to participate in and can benefit from the skills provided,” said Bennie Marshall, principal investigator and chair of NSU’s Department of Nursing.