Engaging African American Women in Community-Based Health Promotion Programs: Key-Informant Recommendations

Abstract

This explorative qualitative study describes the lived experiences of urban-dwelling African American (AA) women who participated in a nurse-led community-based health-promotion program for up to 20 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Two central themes arose, the program facilitated behavior change and supported retention and recruitment. The findings suggest that AA women will attend classes and invite other participants when facilitators embed relevant community-engaged principles in the program. The participants recommended essential elements that supported the longevity of the program. Future studies may determine if these suggestions resonate with other AA women.

It Takes a Village: Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Community-Based Parenting Program

“…The results from this pilot study also indicate that a program focused on wellness and self-care for the whole person has the potential for sustained benefits in the lives of parents and children. In line with recommendations of previous research (Holt et al, 2018;Liu et al, 2018), the results of the evaluation affirm the need for communitybased programs that improve the social capital of community members. Social capital is defined as resources accessed through networks and relationships, which are essential to individuals, families, and communities to achieve their objectives (Lin, 2002).…”

Adverse childhood experiences among previously homeless African American women

“…When faced with homelessness, African American women, such as those in our study, have fewer options and more obstacles than White women due to the long history of structural and institutionalized racism (Piat et al., 2015). This emphasizes the need for wrap‐around services, such as Nia Imani, which provides education, skills‐building, and a sense of community through person‐centered care (Dressel et al., 2020; Holt et al., 2018; O'Shaughnessy & Greenwood, 2021).…”