ABOUT THE BLACK BARBERSHOP HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM

 African American Men and Their Health

Black men suffer far worse health than any other racial group in America. There are a number of reasons for this including racial discrimination, a lack of affordable health services, poor health education, cultural barriers, poverty, employment that does not carry health insurance, insufficient medical and  social services catering to black men.

Black Male Health Statistics:

•  Black men live 7.1 years less than other racial groups.

• They have higher death rates than women for all leading causes of death.

• They experience disproportionately higher death rates in all the leading causes of death.

• 40% of black men die prematurely from cardiovascular disease as compared to 21% of white men.

• African American men have the highest prostate cancer occurrence rates in the world.

• Black Men are 5 times more likely to die from HIV / AIDS.

The Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation launched The Black Barbershop Outreach Program in December 2007 to address the at-risk African American male population throughout the country for cardiovascular disease . Black owned barbershops represent a cultural institution that regularly attractslarge numbers of black men and provides an environment of trust and an avenue to disseminate health education information .During The Black Barbershop Program volunteers have measure blood pressures and screen for diabetes in over 38 cities across the country. Customers with abnormal findings are referred to participating physicians or health care facilities. In some instances, men have been sent directly to the emergency room because of abnormal findings. More commonly, participates are given information about health care resources in their immediate community. Additionally, we have developed "THE REAL BLACK BOOK / Medical Resource Guide" which is a compilation of free or low cost health care resources.This is developed in each market we host an initiative.

The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program has developed key strategic partners around the country to address health care disparities in African American men. In order to reach our goal to screen over 500, 000 men by the year 2014 we are reaching out to every fraternity, sorority, medical school, nurse, corporate entity and philanthropists to help us prevent premature death in African American men from cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.

 OUR MISSION

The mission of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program is to increase public awareness about health care disparities in under-served communities through culturally specific education, research and community based programs. Our goal is to empower the  African-American community to better understand various diseases, their complications as well as the standard of care they deserve as it relates to prevention and management.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program is three-fold:

1. SCREEN: Cardiovascular Disease ( diabetes and hypertension)

2. EDUCATE: Preventive education about diet and  exercise as well as education about the signs and symptoms of common chronic diseases. The “PEP Talk” or Prostate Education Program will inform men about their choices in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.    

3. REFER: Through the “Real Black Book/Medical Resource Guide,” men will be referred to local health care providers that offer free or low-cost health services.