The Center for African American Health is a Family Resource Center dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of infants, seniors, and everyone in between by providing culturally-sensitive health education and health promotion programs.
NEW Program – Workforce Readiness Program
Supported by a grant from Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO), our Workforce Readiness Program provides teens and adults with the support they need to find their next job. The program begins with an assessment of each participant’s skills, experience, and interests. Participants are then trained in how to effectively search, apply, and interview for jobs, with specific guidance provided on how to develop a resume that rises to the top of the stack. Once a job placement is secured, participants will be supported with making sure their new job gets off to a strong start.
To participate in this program, please complete our Participant Intake Form. For more information, email Charles@caahealth.org or call 303-355-3423 extension 117.
Aging Mastery Program® (NCOA)
The NCOA Aging Mastery Program helps older adults build their own playbook for aging well. Through fun, innovative, educational sessions, participants are empowered to embrace the gift of longevity by spending more time each day doing things that are good for them and others. Topics include exercise, financial fitness, healthy relationships, medication management, and community engagement.
Topics and time schedule will be tailored for each group. To learn more about the Aging Mastery Program and to enroll your church or organization, contact Yolanda@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423 extension 110.
Navigating Longer Lives: The Basics of Aging Mastery – Introduction to the program and its philosophy with a special emphasis on the new realities of aging, making the most of the gift of longevity, and taking small steps to improve health, financial well-being, social connectedness, and overall quality of life.
Exercise and You – Discussion of the importance of exercising both the mind and the body with a focus on strategies for incorporating meditation, aerobics, strengthening, flexibility, and balance into daily routines.
Sleep – Overview of how sleep patterns change as we age, the importance of monitoring the sleep cycle, and simple strategies to improve sleep.
Healthy Eating and Hydration – Review of nutrition as it relates to aging with a focus on strategies for incorporating health eating and hydration into daily lives.
Financial Fitness – Introduction to strategies for remaining economically secure in an era of longevity with an emphasis on setting financial goals and setting financial boundaries with friends and families.
Advance Planning – Guidance around key steps needed to manage health care, financial, and housing/care decisions with a focus on considering the role of personal values and beliefs in these decisions.
Healthy Relationships – Exploration of the benefits of being socially active, as well as the risks of isolation with a focus on practical strategies for continuing to build and strengthen friendships and family connections as we age.
Medication Management – Best Practices on how to take medications as directed, how to store medications safely, and how to keep track of multiple medications.
Community Engagement – Introduction to the value of continuing to contribution and small acts of kindness with a focus on identifying personal aptitudes for meaningful volunteer and civic opportunities.
Falls Prevention – Overview of the importance of falls prevention among older adults along with strategies to prevent falls.
BeHeard Mile High
BeHeard Mile High is a social movement created and maintained by The Center for African American Health that gives community members the chance to have their voices heard regarding social issues affecting their neighborhoods! By joining the community panel, members complete easy-to-take surveys. The comprehensive results are shared with key stakeholders and policymakers with a goal of positively impacting health and wellness for African American and Black communities in Metro Denver.
To learn more about BeHeard, contact Eric Moore at Eric@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423 x112.
Check. Change. Control.® Hypertension Management Program
The Center for African American Health is partnering with the American Heart Association to present Check. Change. Control., an evidence-based hypertension management program that utilizes blood pressure self-monitoring to empower participants to take ownership of their cardiovascular health. The cost is FREE to participants who commit to seven classes plus a graduation, an hour each, spanning across four months. The goal is to have each participant record their blood pressure numbers at least twice per month (a free blood pressure monitor will be provided to each participant). Other incentives will be provided throughout the program to ensure progress!
We are in the process of changing our 2020 schedule and will be posting information by Feb. 1, 2020. To learn more, contact Yolanda@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423 extension 110.
Faith and Health Initiative
Through the Faith and Health Initiative, The Center for African American Health serves as a partner assisting and empowering faith communities promote wellness and illness prevention services to their church members and surrounding communities.
The Center’s Faith and Health Ministry Liaison, with support from a Faith and Health Advisory Council, assists in assessing the needs of faith communities, and developing tailored plans and interventions to meet those identified needs. Programs are developed to reflect the unique spiritual beliefs and practices of diverse faith communities with the goals of health promotion and disease prevention.
For more details about Faith and Health, email Yolanda Gotier at Yolanda@caahealth.org or call (303) 355-3423 extension 110.
Learning to Live Well – Health Insurance Literacy and Enrollment
Primarily modeled after U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “From Coverage to Care” educational materials, Learning to Live Well (L2LW) emphasizes key aspects of health insurance coverage and how each can be used to enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals and the community.
The program will:
- Increase health insurance literacy by defining terms used in health insurance.
- Show attendees the basics of creating a wellness plan and how their insurance can be optimally used to support that plan.
- Explain the basic benefits of most health plans and associated costs to the insured.
- Offer tips on other resources available to help minimize costs, such as drug discount programs and copay cards.
To learn more about the service, contact Ron@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423 extension 105.
CAA Health is a Connect for Health Colorado Enrollment Center with certified assisters to recommend a health insurance plan based on your specific needs, help you apply for financial help, and help you sign up for that plan. All health insurance plans sold through Connect or Health Colorado cover essential health benefits and you cannot be charged more or prevented from getting the care you need because of a preexisting condition.
Connect for Health Colorado is Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, and the only place to apply for financial help to reduce your monthly health insurance costs. The financial help you can get through Connect for Health Colorado to lower your monthly payment is called a Premium Tax Credit. Coloradans that qualify for financial help may also qualify for healthcare discounts, called cost-sharing reductions, that lower the amount you pay when you use your plan. Healthcare discounts are only available on silver plans sold through Connect for Health Colorado.
Connect for Health Colorado offers health insurance plans from the following companies depending on where you live:
• Anthem
• Bright Health
• Cigna
• Denver Health Medical Plan
• Friday
• Kaiser Permanente
• Oscar
Living Healthier Together
Living Healthier Together is a program that The Center for African American Health offers to adults, 18 and older. This program utilizes the Eating Smart Being Active (ESBA) curriculum. This evidence-based program, which is based on Adult Learning principles and the Social Cognitive Theory, is currently used in SNAP-ed and in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program and is geared for lower-income participants to help promote healthy eating and physical activity.
Through Living Healthier Together, participants learn new money-saving tips and purchasing habits, such as how to shop at farmers markets and cost comparing items. Participants are given a shopping lists, cutting board, collapsible water bottle, meat thermometer, measuring cups and spoons, a portion plate, and a nutritionist-approved cookbook. They are also encouraged to download an app which reinforces the lessons learned throughout the program and offers a fitness tracker, healthy recipes, and price calculator to help them determine the best prices between similar products.
To learn more about Living Healthier Together, contact connect@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423.
Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults
CAA Health provides Mental Health First Aid training in partnership with Mental Health First Aid Colorado. The 8-hour training teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders, and gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
Check back soon for upcoming training dates and enrollment info. To learn more, contact Denita@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423 extension 116.
Prostate Screenings
Men are encouraged to take charge of their health with a free prostate cancer screening. Presented by The Center for African American Health in partnership with Inner City Health Medical Clinic.
To learn more about the service, contact connect@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423.
Strengthening Families Program
The Center for African American Health’s Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is an evidence-based, nationally and internationally recognized, family skills training program for families with children birth to three years old and three to five years of age. The goals of the program are:
- Strengthening parenting skills
- Improving children’s behavior
- Improving social skills
- Enhancing family functioning
The Center’s SFP is modeled after a successful program developed in 1988 by Dr. Karol Kumpfer of the University of Utah.
Sessions and Enrollment:
This is a FREE program. Meals and LICENSED child care services will be provided.
To learn more, contact Denita@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423 extension 116.
Youth Civic Engagement Program
Youth Civic Engagement Program (YCEP) provides leadership building and empowerment opportunities for Metro Denver African American high-school aged youth, helping them gain skills and develop their strengths to be active agents of social change.
To learn more about YCEP, contact us at info@caahealth.org or (303) 355-3423.