GENESEE COUNTY, MI (October 10, 2023)— Greater Flint Health Coalition received $700,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the first year in the five-year Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. The REACH funding will help the Greater Flint Health Coalition improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health disparities among our African American and Hispanic/Latino population with the highest burden of chronic disease in Flint and Genesee County.
African American/Black residents in Genesee County, which includes the city of Flint, have an age-adjusted mortality rate that is 30% higher that of White residents across all causes. This includes chronic diseases that are worsened by a general lack of access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity: in particular, African American/Black residents’ age-adjusted mortality rates are substantially higher than White residents for heart disease.
Amarachi Wachuku, REACH Project Coordinator, shares, “Community health programs can be done a variety of different ways, but REACH provides a culturally sensitive and tailored approach to lifestyle health changes for communities with the greatest need. That is our desire, to prevent long term chronic diseases and illness by providing education, public health knowledge, financial and technical support with the community – not aside of it.”
Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke are among the most common causes of illness, disability, and death in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual health care costs. These chronic conditions—and the factors that lead to them—are more common or severe for some racial and ethnic groups. The Greater Flint Health Coalition will work with partners and local coalitions to enhance existing resources, address Flint and Genesee County’s health needs, and reduce health disparities. “CDC is excited to announce this new REACH funding to 41 communities across 27 states and the District of Columbia,” said Terry O’Toole, PhD, MDiv, program development and evaluation branch chief in CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. “With this funding, organizations will plan and carry out local, culturally-appropriate programs to address a wide range of health issues among racial and ethnic minority groups where health gaps remain. REACH intends to improve health where people live, learn, work, and play.”
As one of 41 REACH recipients, the Greater Flint Health Coalition will implement proven public health strategies for nutrition, physical activity, and continuity of care in breastfeeding/lactation:
- Healthy food choices easier everywhere—promoting food service and nutrition guidelines, expanding fruit and vegetable voucher incentive and/or produce prescription programs.
- Safe and accessible physical activity—connecting pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation networks to everyday destinations.
- Continuity of care in breastfeeding support—collaborating with partners to implement breastfeeding- friendly policies and practices.
A complete list of CDC’s REACH recipients and additional information can be found on the REACH website.
About the Greater Flint Health Coalition
Established in 1996, the Greater Flint Health Coalition is a Flint, Michigan-based non- profit organization and partnership between Genesee County hospitals, physicians, businesses, insurers, public health professionals, policymakers, government leaders, educators,organizedlabor, communityorganizations,residents,andallthose concerned about the well-being of our community and its residents. The two-fold mission ofthe GreaterFlint HealthCoalitionis toimprovethehealthstatusofGeneseeCountyresidents and the quality and cost-effectiveness of the health care system in the community. For more information on the Greater Flint Health Coalition visit www.gfhc.org.
About Flint and Genesee REACH
The Flint and Genesee REACH program works to ensure that at-risk families within Genesee County have increased access to healthier food, breastfeeding resources, and chronic health community programs through clinical community linkages. This work is done collaboratively with various partners to ensure the best outcomes within the community. For more information on Flint and Genesee REACH, visit www.gfhc.org/racial-and-ethnic-approaches-to-community-health-reach/.