Implementing health promotion activities using community-engaged approaches in Asian American faith-based organizations in New York City and New Jersey

Abstract

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) (e.g., churches, mosques, and gurdwaras) can play a vital role in health promotion. The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Asian Americans (REACH FAR) Project is implementing a multi-level and evidence-based health promotion and hypertension (HTN) control program in faith-based organizations serving Asian American (AA) communities (Bangladeshi, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian) across multiple denominations (Christian, Muslim, and Sikh) in New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ). This paper presents baseline results and describes the cultural adaptation and implementation process of the REACH FAR program across diverse FBOs and religious denominations serving AA subgroups. Working with 12 FBOs, informed by implementation research and guided by a cultural adaptation framework and community-engaged approaches, REACH FAR strategies included (1) implementing healthy food policies for communal meals and (2) delivering a culturally-linguistically adapted HTN management coaching program. Using the Ecological Validity Model (EVM), the program was culturally adapted across congregation and faith settings. Baseline measures include (i) Congregant surveys assessing social norms and diet (n = 946), (ii) HTN participant program surveys (n = 725), (iii) FBO environmental strategy checklists (n = 13), and (iv) community partner in-depth interviews assessing project feasibility (n = 5). We describe the adaptation process and baseline assessments of FBOs. In year 1, we reached 3790 (nutritional strategies) and 725 (HTN program) via AA FBO sites. Most AA FBOs lack nutrition policies and present prime opportunities for evidence-based multi-level interventions. REACH FAR presents a promising health promotion implementation program that may result in significant community reach.

A scoping review and systematic mapping of health promotion interventions associated with obesity in Islamic religious settings in the UK

“…In particular, we suggest that the learning around barriers to access and intervention implementation that were addressed in these projects by partnering with established community‐based religious organizations are highly relevant to health promotion in IRS in the United Kingdom. An excellent example of good practice and potential learning is emerging from The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Asian Americans (REACH FAR) project, that is implementing a multilevel and evidence‐based health promotion in faith‐based organizations serving Asian American communities (Bangladeshi, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian) across multiple denominations (Christian, Muslim, and Sikh) in New York/New Jersey …”

“…Eight projects (35,39,42,43,46,48,49, 50) ran one or more weekly sessions, and these focused on physical activity and exercise; it was unclear for how many weeks these ran and some projects appeared to be ongoing (at the point of writing this manuscript). Three of these eight projects ran sessions to coincide with prayer attendance at the mosque or madrassa.…”

Opportunities and challenges in conducting community-engaged dissemination/implementation research

“…The authors describe the use of a community advisory board throughout the project, from informing questions around oral health to be asked of the community, to finding the optimal approach to adapt evidence to the needs and beliefs of the local community. In the article by Kwon [19] and colleagues, examples of cultural adaptations included language translation, outreach materials that were targeted toward traditional Asian American dietary practices, and health education materials that incorporated supporting biblical scripture.…”

Visualizing Reach of Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Asian Americans: the REACH FAR Project in New York and New Jersey

“…A growing body of literature shows that health promotion and disease prevention strategies and messages may not be effective in reaching racially and ethnically diverse communities, unless those strategies are culturally and linguistically adapted for target communities (1). The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Asian Americans (REACH FAR) project is a multilevel, evidence-based program of health promotion and disease prevention for Asian American communities in New York and New Jersey.…”

“…The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Asian Americans (REACH FAR) project is a multilevel, evidence-based program of health promotion and disease prevention for Asian American communities in New York and New Jersey. Guided by a socio-ecological framework, social marketing principles, and a community based participatory approach, the project implemented multilevel, evidence-based strategies culturally adapted to address hypertension and improve access to healthy food options for Asian Americans in various community settings (1). The strategies were delivered through a multisector coalition made up of a lead academic agency, New York University Center for the Study of Asian American Health; the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH); 4 community-based organizations: UNITED SIKHS, serving the Asian Indian population; Diabetes Research, Education, and Action for Minorities, serving the Bangladeshi community; Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., serving the Filipino community; Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc., serving the Korean community; and other organizations and groups serving these communities.…”