Mojisola Delano of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center To Discuss Overcoming Minority Mistrust in Healthcare At ADCES 2024 Annual Conference on Sunday, Aug. 12
NEWS RELEASE
HOUSTON, Texas (Aug. 6, 2024) --- Mojisola Delano, will address minority distrust in healthcare on behalf of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center. The Institute is an independent interfaith organization working with faith homes of all major traditions across Houston’s diverse community, enabling them to better care for their constituents' health and well-being.
Delano, MS, MPH, who serves as the FaithHealth project coordinator at the Institute, will be a presenter on Sunday, Aug. 12, from 2:25 to 3:10 p.m. CT at the Annual Conference of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES 2024). ADCES 2024 will be held in New Orleans, La., Friday, Aug. 9, through Monday, Aug. 12.
"Minority communities have long faced significant health barriers and disparities, often fueled by a deep-seated mistrust in the healthcare system. Our work at the Institute for Spirituality and Health aims to break down these barriers. By providing education and support within trusted community settings like faith homes, we are addressing the immediate health needs and fostering a sense of trust and empowerment. The success of the Faith & Diabetes and Peer Support programs highlights the importance of culturally sensitive, community-based approaches in reducing health disparities and improving overall well-being,” commented Delano.
About Delano’s Session:
Delano will co-present “Overcoming Minority Mistrust in Health Care: Outcomes of Community-Based Education Programs,” This presentation will address the persistent issue of minority distrust in the healthcare system at both systemic and community levels.
Also presenting with Delano are Serena Valentine, executive director of the CORE Initiative, and Shamyra Woods-Elliott, executive assistant of the CORE Initiative. The CORE Initiative is a health and wellness educational nonprofit organization based in Houston, Texas. This session will be moderated by Baleana Watts-McGilberry, BS, RDN, LDN, CDCES., a nutrition and diabetes consultant.
The presenters will emphasize the importance of community-based education programs (CBEPs) like the Institute’s Faith & Diabetes Initiative and Peer Support Network. CBEPs are effective solutions for educating and empowering individuals to better understand and manage their health. These programs have demonstrated significant impacts on the health of minority populations by enhancing trust in health systems and promoting sustainable healthy lifestyle changes.
This session also explores historical contexts, such as the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, which contribute to ongoing mistrust among minority communities.
“This mistrust often leads to lower adherence to prescribed medications and healthcare recommendations. Community-based programs, facilitated by trusted community members and leaders, provide a vital bridge, fostering better communication, understanding, and compliance among participants. Recognizing that people often seek support from their faith communities, the Institute for Spirituality and Health is dedicated to reaching individuals in the places where they feel most secure and supported,” Delano added.
In her role as the Institute’s FaithHealth Project Coordinator, Delano guides the FaithHealth Network under the Center for Faith and Public Health, focusing on enhancing community physical, spiritual, and emotional health by sharing essential resources, tools, and connecting with local faith homes. Her efforts are particularly aimed at strengthening relationships with Houston’s most at-risk and under-resourced communities. The center’s anchor program, Cities for Better Health-Houston is part of a global initiative by Novo Nordisk to provide support for people living with diabetes and other chronic diseases.
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About the Center for Faith and Public Health
The Institute’s Center for Faith and Public Health focuses on faith communities as a central part of life for a large percentage of the population. Establishing and partnering with health ministries is an effective strategy for advancing community health. By “starting with faith,” the Institute helps public health systems offer resources in a caring way while providing a safe place for faith communities to overcome historical barriers to essential health resources by providing education and access to adults through various initiatives. For more information about the Institute’s Center for Faith and Public Health, please visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/centerforfaithandpublichealth.
About the Faith & Diabetes Initiative
The Faith & Diabetes Initiative aims to empower diverse faith communities in Greater Houston to better understand and manage diabetes and other cardiovascular chronic diseases through evidence-based education and self-management programs. This program is free and open to all those struggling with chronic illnesses and their caregivers.
About the Peer Support Network
The Houston Diabetes Peer Support Program offers a safe and confidential environment for individuals to share their experiences and concerns about diabetes, fostering a supportive community among peers. This program is free and open to all adults diagnosed with any type of diabetes.
About the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center
The Institute is an independent, interfaith organization established in 1955. A founding member of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, the Institute has made a meaningful difference by cultivating heart and humanity in healthcare for nearly seven decades.
The mission of The Institute for Spirituality and Health is to enhance well-being by exploring the relationship between spirituality and health. The Institute advances this mission by engaging in education, research, and direct service programs, guided by its four centers of excellence: the Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Center for Healthcare Professionals, the Center for Body, Spirit, and Mind, the Center for End of Life and Aging, and the Center for Faith and Public Health. For more information about The Institute, visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/.
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