Community Health Worker Training Program
The number of New Yorkers with diabetes has doubled since 1995. Over 1.8 million adults in New York State have diabetes today and more than a third don’t even know it. Now more than ever, people need to be educated about how to prevent or manage this devastating chronic disease.
Many New Yorkers at risk for diabetes are involved in faith communities. The New York State Health Foundation has partnered with the Institute for Leadership to train volunteers in congregations across the state to provide diabetes awareness and education, including information about healthy lifestyle choices, to those who need it most.
The program can provide congregation members with the knowledge and tools to serve as volunteer Community Health Workers at their place of worship. Volunteers will be trained to start a health program in local places of worship to help fight diabetes.
Participants will learn how to:
• Identify people at high risk of developing diabetes
• Help people incorporate daily lifestyle changes designed to fight diabetes
• Link people with health care providers
• Provide tools and support to help people manage their diabetes
Faith Fights Diabetes Community Health Workers will be trained to implement a six-week diabetes detection and prevention program in local congregations. Classes meet for one hour once a week.
Local volunteers will conduct the following six classes in participating congregations:
Class 1: Know Your Numbers
An introductory course on diabetes, associated risk factors and the “ABCs.”
Class 2: Reduce Your Numbers
Learn how nutrition affects diabetes
Class 3: Manage Your Numbers
Learn how physical and emotional fitness can help reduce diabetes
Classes 4 – 6: Peer Group Meeting
Learn how to tailor classes to the unique needs of participants
For more information or to sign up for the free Faith Fights Diabetes Community Health Worker Training Program, please contact Matilde Salazar at msalazar@institute4leadership.com
