The Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative Program

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with disparities among racial and ethnic groups. The Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute included culturally tailored curricula taught by community health workers to improve knowledge and heart-healthy behaviors among Latinos, American Indians, Filipinos, African Americans and Alaska Natives across the United States.

AIR’s evaluation of the Initiative contributed to improved service delivery and a better understanding of the effectiveness of community-based programs for health promotion and disease prevention in underserved, minority communities. Using results from an outcomes evaluation, AIR recommended modifications to the program, developed a more rigorous evaluation, and designed and tested an improved community evaluation toolkit.