Our Programs
Community Health
The Reality
- Hispanics account for the largest percentage of uninsured population in the state and the county. 45.6% of Hispanics in the Dallas region have no health insurance, as compared to the state average of 25.6%.
- Locally, 78.3% of Hispanics are obese or overweight - a major contributing factor of diabetes which can cause complications including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness and kidney disease.
- Health issues are often exacerbated among Hispanics in the greater Dallas area due to language barriers, lack of financial resources and limited education about or experience with this country’s health system.
- 82% of the babies born in Parkland Hospital are Hispanic, and Hispanics make up over half of all patients seen within the system.
If we do not address these problems the costs of community health care will continue to increase in North Texas.
Dallas Concilio: Bridging the Gap
The Community Health program provides grassroots outreach to address growing concerns about obesity and diabetes among Hispanics, as well as the high number of uninsured persons living in Texas. We provide:
- diabetes management classes
- nutrition education classes
- physical activity and support groups
- prescription assistance programs
- individual health screenings
- referrals to low-cost medical care
- Our annual health fair – ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! – reaches over 4,000 participants each year. Designed to help Latinos beat obesity, diabetes and heart disease, participants learn how to get active, eat well and find the resources necessary to stay healthy during a free, interactive event for the entire family. Activities include high-tech games, sports, fitness demonstrations, health screenings, dance and music presentations, nutrition information and workshops on healthy living.
Results to Date
- A follow-up survey of 423 participants in the self-management course/wellness classes determined that:
100% of respondents continued with their nutrition changes six months following the classes.
99% of respondents initiated or increased their physical activity and had continued this change in behavior for the six months following the classes.
Our Community Health Manager, Silvia Gallegos, was chosen as a Cheerios’ “Angel de mi Corazon” in 2009, one of only five across the country, for her work to prevent heart disease among Hispanics. She was also selected as the winner of the National Health Advocate award as part of the Reader’s Digest Selecciones, Macy’s and the American Heart Association’s “Go Red de Corazon” campaign in 2008.
In July 2007, our Community Health program was nationally recognized with a Family Strengthening Award by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) in collaboration with the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
In 2006, the Dallas Concilio was honored to present our LIDER (Latino Initiative for Diabetes Education and Risk-Reduction) diabetes self-management program and our Pasos Saludables (“Healthy Steps”) walking program at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Annual Diabetes and Obesity Conference.
Testimonials
“I learned what diabetes was and how to take care of myself, how to exercise and walk at least five days a week, and regarding nutrition I learned how to eat more greens and fewer meats and fats.”
Nieves Perez, 81 year old participant in the Community Health program (translated from Spanish)
“Working together to address the needs of the Hispanic community, AVANCE-Dallas and the Dallas Concilio have frequently joined forces. One of our most dynamic and successful partnerships occurred when mothers we served in our early childhood parenting classes as a group began participation in Pasos Saludables, the exercise program offered by the Concilio. Already a cohesive group of women, these mothers became the most dedicated participants of the Concilio’s program with their commitment to exercise for 2 hours, four days each week. This collaborative effort strengthened the bonds within the group we formed and greatly enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the need for a healthy diet and lifestyle for their families.”
Lisa Oglesby Rocha, MSSW, Executive Director, AVANCE-Dallas