Healthy Spirits is a cardiovascular health promotion and risk reduction program offered to African Americans in Anderson and Oconee through their churches.
Cardiovascular disease or CVD (heart attacks, strokes) is the leading killer of South Carolinians. African Americans are 1.4 times more likely to die or become disabled from CVD than are Caucasians. S.C. has the highest stroke death rate in the nation. African Americans in S.C. are twice as likely to die of stroke than are Caucasians. The risk of suffering or dying from CVD can be minimized through an understanding of your own health status and risks, getting medical treatment for risks, and making healthy lifestyle choices.
Hopefully, you, your family, and your church family! This program is offered to congregations through a grant provided by the S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control’s Cardiovascular Health Program. Community partners providing this program include:
The Community partners work with church leaders to develop a health committee
within each participating church. These leaders serve as coordinators of the
Healthy Spirits initiative in their church. They receive training, resources,
and coordinating services to help their congregation reduce their risks for
cardiovascular disease and other health concerns, such as diabetes.
Through screenings, awareness programs, health events, and friendly competitions
with other congregations involved in the Healthy Spirits program, church members
gain the knowledge and skills to improve their chances of living a longer,
healthier life.
Churches are expected to provide the support / endorsement of the church leaders and a commitment from members willing to serve on the church’s health committee to organize and coordinate Healthy Spirits activities within their church. A $25 application fee for participation in the Healthy Spirits program is required. Time and space to offer program services at the church or other community facility is also required.
Churches receive the Healthy Spirits Resource Kit (valued at over $250)
that provides educational materials, books, and health screening items to promote
good health among the congregation. Congregation members participate in a HeartScore
health screening and counseling session (valued over $1,000 per participant)
to assist in identifying their health risks and the strategies needed to reduce
these risks. A training session and ongoing support for the health committee
members is also provided, so they can provide successful health promotion programs
and activities within their congregations in a Healthy Spirits of friendly competition
and fun.
Churches have the opportunity to establish positive working relationships with
community partners, who work with them to improve the health and well-being
of their congregations through this initiative and beyond. Participating churches
have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 grant, to be awarded to
support and / or sustain a health promoting initiative within their church.
And, most importantly, churches receive the benefits of healthier congregation
members, who appreciate the church’s concern for their overall body,
mind, and spirit.
For more information on the Healthy Spirits program, contact:
Katora Campbell
Parish Nurse Coordinator
Partners for a Healthy Community
(864) 375-9190Dory Willis
Director, Community Based Services
Appalachia I Health District
(864) 260-5578
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Counties, Extension Service, Clemson, S.C. Issued in Furtherance of Cooperative
Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30,
1914.
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