Faith-Based Health Initiatives
The SC DHEC- Office of Minority Health (SC DHEC-OMH) is actively addressing health disparities in minority communities by engaging the faith community as partners. Key partnerships have been established with the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), in the development of an AMEC Strategic Health Plan, and with Baptist churches and other denominations in the development/enhancement of health ministries.
OMH developed “Protect Your Body…Your Temple", a faith-based health promotion/ health education initiative which focuses on priority disparity areas and risk reduction activities to improve congregational and community health. “Protect Your Body …Your Temple” church bulletin inserts (pdf) a re used as a primary health education tool.
Through a grant provided by US DHHS- Office of Minority Health, SC DHEC-OMH is implementing a “Protect Your Body …Your Temple” cardiovascular health initiative addressing physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use prevention.