Grants

Non-traditional preventive education program for African-American females with chronic health conditions

The Foundation's Local Initiative Funding Partners Program, a matching grants program, was designed to establish partnerships between the RWJF and local grant makers in support of innovative, community-based projects that improve health and health care for underserved and vulnerable populations. The purpose of this project, Healthy Hair Starts with a Healthy Body, is to train hair stylists in African-American neighborhoods as lay health promoters to educate women about diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. Having begun in Detroit and expanded to three other Michigan cities, the program will be replicated in four more cities in order to combat the high incidence of kidney failure and mortality in the African-American community. Since many of these women visit their hair stylist more than 30 times a year for several hours per appointment, their ongoing relationship creates an opportunity to encourage healthy behaviors such as seeing a doctor, improving diet, or starting an exercise program. Funding partners include: Verizon Wireless; Meijer, Inc.; Metro Health Foundation; Michigan Department of Community Health Diabetes, Dementia, and Kidney Section, Community Choice, Michigan; Michigan Primary Care Association; Grand Rapids Community Foundation; and Steelcase Foundation.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $460,000.00

Awarded on: 7/25/2001

Time frame: 8/1/2001 - 7/31/2006

Grant Number: 42800

Grantee

National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Inc.

1169 Oak Valley Drive
Ann Arbor, MI, 48108-9674

734-971-2800

Linda Smith-Wheelock
Project Director

734-222-9800
Email

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