	Home Visiting Hours Directions Quality	Privacy Contact Us Donate Español

About Us Annual Reports Are You a Physician? Awards and Recognition Be a Volunteer Community Involvement For Members of the Media History John Muir Health Board of Directors John Muir Health Foundation John Muir Physician Network Mission Privacy Professional Education Quality Tobacco Policy Hospitals/Other Facilities Contact Us Directions John Muir Behavioral Health Center John Muir Medical Center, Concord Campus John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus John Muir Outpatient Center, Brentwood John Muir Outpatient Center, Tice Valley/Rossmoor Other Outpatient Medical Facilities Patient Information Urgent Care Centers Visitor Information Women's Health Center Programs & Services Bariatric Surgery (Weight Loss Surgery Center) Behavioral Health Cancer Institute Cardiovascular Institute Chronic Care Referral Program Classes, Screenings and Support Groups Emergency Services Hospital Services Laboratory Services (MuirLab) Medical Imaging Neurosciences Institute Nursing Services Orthopedics Other Clinical Services Physical Rehabilitation Senior Services Surgical Services Trauma Services Urgent Care Centers Women and Children's Services More Programs and Services Find a Physician Search John Muir Physician Network Search John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus Search John Muir Medical Center, Concord Campus Search John Muir Behavioral Health Center Patient Services Insurances We Accept Insurance FAQs Patient Financial Assistance Programs Patient Assistance/ Charity Care Program Contact Us Preparing for Your Visit Health Information Health Reference Library Multimedia Library Health Care Tools Careers Healthcare Professionals Physician Careers

John Muir/Mt. Diablo Community Health Fund

Health Partnerships

Building Bridges to Better Health

Bay Point/Pittsburg African American Health Initiative

Row 1 (seated) left to right: Charles Ortmeyer, Board President, Center for Human Development; Tumoni Williams, Resident Leader, holding Kai´la Barnes; Le´Andra Turner, African American Health Conductor; Evelyn Dodson, African American Health Conductor; Kareem Bennett, African American Health Conductor; Renee Day-Roa, East County Kids N Motion; Suzanne Kelly, Resident Leader; Evelyn Warren, Resident Leader.

Row 2 (standing) left to right: Donna Maxwell, Board Member, Center for Human Development; Elaine Prendergast, Executive Director, Center for Human Development; Marion DePuit, Faith and Health Partnership Program Manager, John Muir Community Health Alliance; Roxanne Carrillo, Healthy Neighbhoods Project Manager, Contra Costa Health Services; Arturo Castillo, Health Education Manager, La Clínica de La Raza, Inc.; Robin Poppino-Kuntz, Regional Director, Planned Parenthood: Shasta-Diablo; Tiombe Mashama, Lead Mentor, Mentors Council for Health Conductors Project; Concepcion James, Manager, Reducing Health Disparities, Contra Costa Health Services; Jean Racy, Resident Leader; Ethel Powell, Resident Leader.

Bay Point/Pittsburg African American Health Initiative

"I love working with the whole family – not just with the kids. The Health Conductor Program makes a huge difference for how everyone gets healthy." - Le´Andra Turner, African American Health Conductor

In Brief: To address documented health disparities affecting African Americans in Bay Point and Pittsburg, this grant supports a planning process among community-based organizations, clinics, the county, and residents. The process will explore the best ways to build on an existing effort – African American health conductors – with the goal of increasing multiple access points to high quality, culturally sensitive health care.

The Health Issue: According to the 2007 county health indicators report, in Contra Costa County African Americans have the highest death rates from heart disease, cancer, stroke, homicide, and unintentional injuries. Reducing these health disparities depends in part on improving African Americans’ access to care.

The Health Improvement Strategy: An initial planning grant brings together Center for Human Development with La Clínica de la Raza, Planned Parenthood Shasta-Diablo, Contra Costa Health Services, and local residents to create a plan of action for a multi-year health initiative aimed at reducing health disparities for African Americans in Bay Point and Pittsburg. In the planning process, these groups will seek new ways to work together to create a seamless system of high quality, culturally sensitive health care.

One piece of the process will examine how to leverage the proven efficacy of the Bay Point African American Health Conductors. The conductors are community members trained to help their neighbors find appropriate preventive and primary care, get to appointments, and navigate the health care system. These conductors have been gradually building trust in Bay Point. In addition to their work with families and individuals, the conductors have:

Hosted community events
Facilitated workshops on such topics as nutrition, HIV-AIDS, and the management of chronic disease
Advocated for improved water quality
Created two support groups

“We expect to hire one more conductor to reach more people and move this effort out to Pittsburg,” says Elaine Prendergast, executive director of the Center for Human Development, the group that administers the conductor program. “We also expect to continue working closely with the county’s Mentor Council (professionals who volunteer to train and mentor the conductors) and hire a full-time manager for the program.”

Of course, even if the conductors successfully expand their efforts, health care providers and other involved parties in Bay Point and Pittsburg – two communities with a high percentage of underserved African Americans – know they must create a more seamless, culturally sensitive, and accessible system of care than the current one. Therefore, the planning process also will explore this issue through the use of a neutral facilitator who will help the partners identify the roles each should play in this initiative and the best way to achieve their goals.

"We want to find a way to level the playing field and create a range of good choices for health care access. The key is a strong voice from residents of Bay Point and Pittsburg. " - Elaine Prendergast, Executive Director, Center for Human Development


Colleague's email address:
Your email address:
Subject:	A colleague recommends
Message: