HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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.
Phoenix Chapter initiatives within the Health & Human Services Facet include:
* The Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer (CBBC) |Breast Cancer awareness, prevention and survivor support programs and outreach, including Beauty Beyond Breast Cancer Makeup Workshops | Collaborators: Mayo Clinic Arizona, the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Gamma Mu Boule of Phoenix; and the Wellness Community.
* HeartLinks to Heart Health Red Dress Cocktail Party
The Links Health and Human Services committee addresses 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 Health & Human Services 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.
National Initiative programs stemming from the Health and Human Services Facet include Breast Health, Childhood Obesity, Heart Health, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, Oral Health and Mental Health.
African American Women and Men with Breast Cancer as a Focus
The Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer (CBBC), www.cbbcaz.org, is the only group within the Phoenix Metro area (6th largest metro in the nation) that specifically focuses on Black men and women of African descent diagnosed with breast cancer. The coalition is an initiative of the Phoenix Chapter of the Links Incorporated, Sigma Pi Phi Gamma Mu Boule, and Mayo Clinic. The CBBC was developed to increase education and awareness, to provide access to treatment options, and to highlight health care disparities facing African-American breast cancer patient. The Coalition of Blacks Again Breast Cancer is on Facebook and has a website for more information.
The Health and Human Services facet was created to have a central location for all health-related programs. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, childhood obesity, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer awareness, oral health and brain health are just a few of the programs within this facet.
The Links, Incorporated received a Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Grant. The Phoenix Chapter of The Links, Inc. is one of ten Link Chapters chosen to participate in this National Program.