Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Launching of New Diabetes Prevention Project
February 17, 2010
In collaboration with community partners, the Asian Health Coalition of Illinois has expanded its programmatic reach to improving Diabetes management efforts in three Chicago Asian communities
The Diabetes Prevention Project in the Asian Community (DPPAC) aims to improve self-management efforts of those in the Cambodian, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities impacted with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Albany Park, Armour Square, and Uptown. Individuals with diabetes from each of the three communities will participate in 8-week intensive culturally and linguistically relevant diabetes education and support groups, led by trained community health advocates. Three 8-week sessions in each of the communities will be conducted between May 2010 and December 2010.
The 8-week, 90-minute classes will be tailored to each of the three ethnic communities, and each class will provide interactive learning around a diabetes self-management topic (diabetes 101, individual health and self-management goals, nutrition and diet, self-care and visiting the doctor, physical activity, medications and blood glucose testing, emotional health, community resources) time for sharing and support among the group, and expert-led physical activity (i.e. Yoga, aerobics, Tai Chi, etc). Various teaching tools will be employed, such as story telling, discussion, demonstration, and role playing.
It was discovered through the Chicago Asian Community Surveys research initiative, that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Chicago's Asian communities is strikingly high, notably 10% in the Chinese community, 9% in the Cambodian community, and 15% in the Vietnamese community. These rates are much higher than the national rate of diabetes of 7%. Asian immigrant and refugee communities face significant barriers to accessing health programs and services, often related to cultural and linguistic differences, health insurance status, and attitudes towards the western health care system. Specific to diabetes control, members from the three communities expressed a lack of diabetes health awareness, knowledge, and literacy to effectively self-manage this chronic condition. AHCI, along with community partners, used both quantitative data and supplemental qualitative data from the CACS initiative to guide the development of this program.
AHCI will collaborate with the Cambodian Association of Illinois, Chinese American Service League, and Chinese Mutual Aid Association to implement and evaluate DPPAC.
AHCI would like to thank the following organizations for their generous financial support of DPPAC: the Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and the American Medical Association Fund for Better Health.
For further information on DPPAC, please feel free to contact -
Celine Woznica, DrPH
Director of Programs
Mandy LaBreche, MPH
Program Coordinator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Launching of AA Substance Abuse Intervention Initiative- Phase 2
The Asian Health Coalition of Illinois, along with a diverse coalition committed to addressing substance abuse in the Asian community, is pleased to announce the launch of the Asian American Substance Abuse Intervention Initiative-Phase 2 (AASAII-2)
With funding and support from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)-Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (DASA), AHCI and community partners are excited to address substance abuse in a multidimensional way. This project provides an invaluable opportunity for community-based organizations and community providers to address key cultural and linguistic barriers, stigma, and accessibility and utilization concerns surrounding substance abuse among Asian Americans.
Goals: Education and outreach on the issue of substance abuse in the Asian communities will be provided within the partner organizations and the communities to best promote awareness and build the capacity of communities to address the issue. Additionally, a social marketing campaign and a youth video project, will also serve as two strategies to educate and provide resources for the community to guide those who are at-risk. In tandem, we believe that these different components will work together to successfully get individuals from the Asian community with a substance abuse problem from screening to treatment.
Partners for AASAII-2 are Asian Human Services, Cambodian Association of Illinois, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Hanul Family Alliance, Henry Booth House, Korean American Community Services, and the Vietnamese Association of Illinois. Should I mention Columbia College Chicago and Loyola University Chicago-School of Social Work.
For further information on DPPAC, please feel free to contact -
Celine Woznica, DrPH
Director of Programs
Mandy LaBreche, MPH
Program Coordinator
