HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE PURPOSE, SCOPE AND POLICY

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE PURPOSE, SCOPE AND POLICY

Purpose:

Willie Kweku Davis Jr., Ph.D. Theresa Bass, B.S.*

The Health and Wellness Committee of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) purpose is to work to address issues of health and wellness including management of and prevention of chronic disease, communicable diseases, and mental and physical health conditions.

The Health and Wellness Committee works cooperatively with the Executive Board of the NABSW to move the vision, mission and goals of the organization. The committee initiates and participates in policy discussions that impact African Americans; while researching, compiling and disseminating critical information that supports the health of African American people.

Scope:

This Policy will apply to Chapters and members of NABSW

The Health and Wellness Committee have identified major health issues and make recommendations for implementation including HIV/AIDS, Chronic Diseases, Substance Abuse, Psychiatric Disorders, Stress, Elder Care, and other illnesses that impact the black community and provide a model of Primary Prevention and Education linking mental, physical, and spiritual health models which have been successful in promoting good health for African American Families **.

Guiding Principles:

WHO (World Health Organization): Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It implies Prevention and Education and it is strength based and African Centered.

Focus on increasing the community's capacity to assist regional public health

Acknowledge local traditions, especially the cultural and religious values

Seek collaborations and multi-sectored approaches

Involve affected individuals and communities at all levels of the development of the implementation of services

Emphasize the need for ongoing and sustainable funding support

A non-hierarchical approach and staging people where they are at

Develop a schematic model for committee members*** for optimum impact.

It is the Policy of this Committee to:

Promote Take Your Loved one for a Checkup Day in September of each year Implement Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Chapter Guide Disseminate information and models of successful health projects to local chapters Continue Afrorobics Activity at the Annual Conference Continue hosting a health Booth and Health screening at the Annual Conference Develop a National Community Education Campaign on obesity, **** Continue Alliances with other groups that promote Health in the African American

Community Promote the Seven Step Plan to a Healthy Heart Develop strategies such as the integration of HIV/AIDS with co-morbidities of sexually

transmitted diseases (STDs) and tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis C. Promote Community Outreach and supportive services using Peers

________________________________________________________________________

*In the spirit of MAAT and Harambee a special thanks to past Co-Chairs of both the Health and Wellness Task Force and the Health and Wellness Committee; Theresa Bass, BA, Dr. Johnny Hamilton Mason and Leartice Bagley, MA.

** These models have included working with:

Howard University to implement a violence prevention program in Washington D.C., Working with the Black Cardiologist Association to develop a Health Heart promotion, Collaborating with the office of Minority Health at HHS for the Take Your Loved one for

a Checkup day and are currently working with their National Partnership for Action, Participated in a Partnership To Address Childhood Obesity with the Institute for the

Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine, Presented with the BLACK PSYCHIATRISTS OF AMERICA a position paper on

creating a Culturally Competent Workforce before the Congressional Black Caucus Maintain connections with Healthy Families USA Maintain connections the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network.

As part of our ongoing empowerment activity we have helped in the development of:

Emotional Trauma and Emergency Preparedness Committee HIV/AIDS Committee Aerobics event

*** Annetta Wilson, Lois Hayman-El, Rosetta Perterkin, Anthony Harris, Marjorie Hammond, Ruth Vaughn, Myrtle Ferrende Lillie Tisdale, Roxanne Denby Ellis (others to be added)

**** Priority

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download