The Links, Incorporated established the Health and Human Services (HHS) facet in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. The goal of HHS is to promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health and the elimination of chronic health disparities in communities of color through education, health advocacy, and optimal utilization of health resources. Community education about health risks is crucial and The Links, Incorporated plays a significant role in providing it.
Passport to STEMulating Healthy Lifestyles
The Passport to STEMulating Healthy Lifestyles is an intergenerational health education and awareness program. It targets middle school girls, their mothers and grandmothers, in African American and minority communities in Houston, TX. The program’s mission is to motivate them to improve their health and the health of their families coupled with encouraging, supporting, and presenting role models to generate positive attitudes toward STEM (Science, Technology, Education, Math) education and STEM careers. Hands-on STEM activities for middle school girls and digital training for mothers and grandmothers are methods used to generate positive attitudes toward STEM.
Participants in this Legacy program are provided information on the causes of the most common chronic illnesses that are prevalent in African American and minority communities including, but not limited to, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, obesity, cancer, and Hepatitis C. The program provides opportunities to reach adolescent middle school girls at an early age, helping them to understand the importance of looking inward at themselves and consciously making a change in their behavior to live a healthy lifestyle. Diet and nutrition, exercise tips, meal planning, oral health and the importance of water are just a few of the many concepts taught in this program. The Passport program offers a unique opportunity for young ladies, their mothers and grandmothers to learn and grow together to empower them to stimulate conversations within their families, among their friends and in their communities on the importance of changing unhealthy habits so they can live their best life and enjoy a more productive life. Over 500 participants completed the entire program.