Public Policy, Health Promotions, Research and Evaluation
and Behavioral Health and Addiction
-
Public Policy addresses public policy that has impacted African-American communities in order to remediate the effects of racism on health outcomes by advocating for policies to promote programming designed to achieve health parity.
-
Behavioral Health and Addiction increase awareness of the negative effects of trauma, addiction and domestic abuse by promoting behavioral change through training, programming, and education.
-
Research and Evaluation bring awareness to the effects of racism on the health outcomes of African American people through the development and implementation of research programs and initiatives. Evaluation of programming that addresses research findings that negatively affect African American communities.
-
Health Promotions to promote a lifestyle that will empower individuals to make choices that will increase positive health outcomes to reduce the effects of health disparities.
NEOBHC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Behavioral Health and Addiction
Increase awareness of the negative effects of trauma, addiction and domestic abuse by promoting behavioral change through training, programming, and education.
FEBRUARY
5th Annual A Talk with my Daughters: Spiritual Healing for African American Women
Saturday February 13, 2021
Join the NEOBHC as we honor the birth of the mother of civil rights Rosa Parks. Village Elders will guide us as we reflect on our past, challenge our present and take control of our future. African American Women will discuss how we can channel our ancestors in order to heal ourselves, our loved ones and our spirit relations to help build a better Northeast Ohio.
5th Annual A Talk with my Brothers: Spiritual Healing for African American Men
Saturday February 13, 2021
Join the NEOBHC as we honor the birth of Frederick Douglas. Village Elders will guide us as we reflect on our past, challenge our present and take control of our future. African American men will discuss how we can channel our ancestors in order to heal ourselves, our loved ones and our spirit relations to help build a better Northeast Ohio.
2nd Annual Love Letter 2 U
Wednesday February 10, 2021
Love Letter 2 U is a domestic violence awareness program. This healing session focuses on empowerment through the gift of a letter. Participants use powerful words to send a powerful message to themselves. Letters along with a Valentine’s Day Card are sent to participants.
MAY
12th Annual Virtual Women Experiencing Love Life & Laughter - A HAT Affair
Saturday May 15, 2021
Love Life & Laughter - A HAT Affair is a faith based mental health program for women. This program addresses mental health concerns in African American women and the hesitation in seeking treatment because it is viewed as a personal weakness, not a health problem.
Goal:
-
To provide a forum where the treatment and help for mental health issues is promoted in a culturally sensitive environment.
-
To foster a spirit of healing from past hurt and pain.
-
To provide a space where women are embraced in a sisterhood.
JUNE
6th Annual Aches, Pains & Automobiles - Men’s Health Tuneup
Saturday June 12, 2021
Aches, Pains & Automobiles - Men’s Health Tune-up is a program that promotes mental health and wellness in men. The Tune Up features a therapist, health screenings, a healthy lunch and a classic and antique car show.
Goals:
-
To educate men on the problems associated with stress.
-
To empower men with the tools needed to begin to live healthier lifestyles.
-
To advocate for programs that focus on the social determinants of obesity (etc. stress, mental health, economic, genetic, and environmental
OCTOBER
5th Annual No More Tears - When Your Sweetie Ain’t So Sweet
October, 2021
This ain't your mama's domestic violence awareness program. This is a Healing Talk that focuses on Art, Therapy and Life. Three Sisters coming from various angles working together to help repair what has been broken. You may have been abused by a spouse, parent, child, sibling, boss or friend. Let the HEALING begin!
Public Policy
Address public policy that has impacted African-American communities in order to remediate the effects of racism on health outcomes by advocating for policies to promote programming designed to achieve health parity.
African American Policy Committee
The African American Policy Committee (AAPC) of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition is a committee consisting of public, private, and community members working to identify, understand, and collaborate around issues to change and influence policies related to black health. The AAPC was created because racism has been declared a public health crisis in a number of local and state municipalities. In response to the growing frequency of these declarations, the AAPC believes that the only way we can effectively address these structural dilemmas of systemic health disparities is through changes to policies that are fundamentally racist in origin, intent, and application.
The AAPC meets the first Monday of every month from 2-3pm.
Policy History
In January, 2015 the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition hosted the Local Conversation on the Department of Justice to focus on the systemic issues in the Cleveland Police Department. Our report was used to craft the consent decree for the City of Cleveland. The Community Corrective Action Report provides principles for engagement, support, and implementation of practices that reflect the ideological underpinnings of equitable treatment under the law. This document is the first of its kind to provide an actionable plan that captures the insight and experiences of those who are disproportionately affected by law enforcement practices. Recent grassroots responses across the United States indicate the need for solutions that link community vision with fair practices. The Community Corrective Action Report provides these linkages through:
-
Identification of key factors that create, maintain and naturalize problematic practices in law enforcement
-
Providing recommendations for addressing these factors
-
Providing a framework for assessment of progress
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition formed the Cleveland Lead Safe Network (CLSN) in January 2017 to promote legislation that would require owners of rental properties built before 1978 to make their properties lead safe before children are poisoned. About 4 children per day are diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels. In January of 2019, CLSN joined with 10 other community based organizations to form Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH) as an Issue PAC under Ohio law. CLASH began a petition drive to place a lead safe housing initiative on the ballot. We want to change the way the city of Cleveland does business with the citizens of Cleveland.
Accomplishments of CLSN and CLASH
-
Barely three months old, in 2017, Cleveland Lead Safe Network (CLSN) helped organize citizen groups across the state to defeat an effort to preempt local jurisdictions from enacting legislation around lead safe housing. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/04/budget_amendment_would_strip_cities_of_authority_to_address_lead_poisoning.html
-
Later in 2017, worked with Councilman Jeff Johnson to introduce Cleveland’s first ever Lead Safe Housing Ordinance and worked for a year to mobilize support for the ordinance.
-
In 2019, CLASH’s ballot initiative forced passage of the Cleveland Lead Safe Certificate ordinance.by Cleveland City Council. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/07/cleveland-city-council-passes-historic-lead-poisoning-prevention-law.html
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition co-founded a coalition of 14+ grassroots, community-based organizations demanding justice for people impacted by the horrifying conditions in the Cuyahoga County Jail system. Over the past year, much has come to light regarding the horrendous, inhumane conditions in the Cuyahoga County Jail system, including a 52-page report from the US Marshal’s service, who will no longer even house their own detainees there due to the substandard conditions and overt brutality experienced by our most vulnerable residents.
In response to this crisis in Cuyahoga County, the Coalition to Stop the Inhumanity at the Cuyahoga County Jail has been building a powerful, community-based campaign to demand justice and accountability.
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition has been working to change policies that disproportionately impact communities of color by highlighting equity issues and working to dismantle the systems that created these environments in the first place. We are currently working on a menthol free community campaign, highlighting the impact of lead poisoning, the elimination of sugary soda from the SNAP program and antiracism efforts in hospital systems.
August-November
7th Annual State of Disparities in the African American Community Virtual Conference Series
August 13-14, 2021
Fridays 9am-3pm
Saturday 9am-3pm
https://tinyurl.com/2021NEOBHCConference
Goal: To examine how political and social policies have impacted health disparities in the African American community. The conference will examine the state of chronic disease disparities by exploring the impact on the community through historical documentation, breakout sessions and personal testimonies.
Past: Examining policies that impacted the present state of disparities in the African American
community.
Present: Discussion on the impact of chronic disease disparities on the pursuit of health parity.
Future: What must be done to help shape policies that impact health disparities in the African
American community? *Equipping attendees with the knowledge to create and advocate for
relevant policies at the national, state and local levels.
Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition 7th Annual State of Disparities in the African American Community Virtual Conference Series - Race in America
August 13-14, 2021 Virtual Conference
Registration/Zoom Webinar Link
https://tinyurl.com/2021NEOBHCConference
Aug. 13, 2021: Opening Day
Theme: It’s All About the Color line
This conference will address the impact of the racial color line on the achievement of freedom and citizenship by African Americans in Northeast Ohio and the US nationally.
-
Session will address the ways in which racism continues to affect efforts toward Africn American advancement in various areas of life and impacts the mental health of African Americans.
-
Explains how the color line has transformed over time to evidence gains and continued hopes of progress toward racial equity.
-
Places an emphasis on using a sustainable racial public health framework, drawn from the ongoing work of advocates and scholars, to navigate the contemporary racial color line.
9:00 am - 9:25 am
Rev. Darnella Allen, Executive Board Chair Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
Yvonka M. Hall, MPA, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Toward the Science and Practice of Anti-Racism: Launching a National Campaign Against Racism
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, MPH, PhD.
American physician, epidemiologist, medical anthropologist
This presentation will focus on the effects of racism and social inequalities on health.
-
Define institutional racism, personally mediated racism, and internalized racism in the context of modern U.S. race relations.
-
Explain racism and not race is a risk factor and what actions are needed to address structural racism.
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Diversity Talks and Pr(iSM) Resistance Coalition A National Anti-Racism Training
White Folks(Part I): We Have to Talk About Race
This virtual workshop will focus on strategies for engaging in racial equity conversations.
-
Create unique learning environments where the most marginalized voices are at the forefront.
-
Increase cultural competency by fostering a healing space for those in power and those most marginalized to challenge the societal standards upholding white supremacy.
White Folks (Part II): A Call to Action Friday September 13, 2021 10am-11:30am
This virtual workshop will focus on strategies for taking actionable steps in your communities.
BREAK
12:05 pm - 1:05 pm
Let Me Clear My Throat - The Plain Truth About Racism and the Impact on Black America
Racism and the Proliferation of Guns in the American American Community
Dr.Danielle King PhD., Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Congressional Fellow
This presentation will address the continuing need to speak out about the truthful impact of gun violence on the African American community.
-
Highlight the significance of providing space for African Americans to express the continuing emotional impact of gun violence on their lives and those of their communities.
-
Discusses holistic models of how to deal with the increased proliferation of guns and their impact on African American communities.
12:35 pm - 1:05 pm
The Neighborhood that Racism Built Creating an Ecosystem of Wellness
Bishar Jenkins, Jr CBCF Congressional Fellow
This presentation will look at the manner by which the social location of the neighborhood provides the context whereby the effects of racism can be countered through the creation of a sustainable system of communal health and wellness.
-
Using a public health lens to address overall health and wellness while promoting mental health wellness.
-
Will highlight the importance of the neighborhood as a site to dismantle the residue of racism and promote collective racial and communal health.
BREAK
1:10 pm - 1:40 pm
Fight the Power - Policy and the Impact on People
Rev. Dr. Zachery Williams, PhD., Policy Director Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
This presentation will focus on the importance of local, state, and federal policy in improving the lives of African Americans.
-
Will discuss how people must be at the center of defining what policy should look like and what form it should take to advance equity.
-
How cultural issues have been used to craft policies that have helped and hindered African American advancement.
1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
Jacquie Abrams, Author, AntiRacism Consultant
HUSH Money How One Woman Proved Systemic Racism in Her Workplace and Kept Her Job
This presentation tells a compelling and cautionary tale that is all too familiar to Black people across the globe about the rigors of working in a large, highly bureaucratic organization and dealing with covert and overt racism
-
Provide those who are currently dealing with racism in the workplace with a sound strategy one Black woman used to successfully prove the existence of racism in the workplace.
-
Provide employers who are looking for a more effective way to prevent racism in their organizations with a better way to understand it.
Conclusion - Homework
Day 2 of 2 Day Virtual Conference
August 14, 2021
Theme: All About YOUth
The mission for All About YOUth is to gather the community and bring awareness to mental, physical, and emotional health while setting the stage to build a secure future for the youths.
9:00 am - 9:15 am
Rev. Darnella Allen Executive Board Chair Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
Lashale Pugh PhD., Assistant Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition High School Interns
9:20 am- 9:50 am
The Power of the POET-Drop It Like It's Hot
Keynote Honey Bell-Bey BA, OCPSI, Poet Laureate Cuyahoga County
Director of Youth Services Cleveland UMADAOP
The presentation will focus on the impact of emotional trauma in African American youth.
-
The impact of adverse childhood experiences and overcoming trauma in african american youth.
-
Using the power of poetry to heal emotional wounds.
9:55 am-10:25 am
Missing You - Human Trafficking and tthe African American Community
Loretta Gray MEd., President Emeritus and National Council of Negro Women National Advisory Committee Member
This presentation will focus on the magnitude of slavery and human trafficking awareness and prevention in Ohio.
-
We will alert youth to the dangers and grim realities of slavery human trafficking.
-
We will provide information regarding local police and tiplines for youth that find themselves or friends in danger.
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Pass Up the Courvoisier-A Lifetime of Hurt Underage Drinking: Rev. Dr. Joseph McNeal, ReEntry Specialist YUMADAOP (Youngstown)
The presentation will focus on the prevention of underage drinking in African American youth as well as the long-term impact of alcohol consumption.
-
Provide an overview of the harm that results from consuming alcoholic products.
-
Provide strategies to resist peer pressure related to the consumption of alcoholic products.
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Puff Puff Pass - Menthol/Flavors and African American Youth
NEOBHC College Interns
This presentation will focus on smoking prevention for youth.
-
Provide information on the physical harm that results from using tobacco products.
-
Provide Information on vaping and the harmful effects of other products containing tobacco.
11:35 am - 12:05 pm
Afternoon Panel
Digital Underground - Connecting the Disconnected
This presentation will focus on innovation, collaboration, & connectivity working to make Greater Cleveland’s digital future equitable for youth.
-
Provide education to students regarding opportunities to have access to, as well as learn how to navigate through the internet and to provide ongoing support.
-
Provide Information on the dangers of internet predators.
12:05 pm - 12:35 pm
Stand Up for Your Rights - Overcoming Hurdles in the Foster Care System
Lisa Dickson
Jaye Turner
Deanna
This presentation will focus on the hurdles that youth face in the foster care system.
-
Provide information on the creation of a youth ombudsman office in the State of Ohio.
-
Provide Information on the rights of youth that are in and aging out of the foster care system.
BREAK
12:50 pm - 1:20pm
Can You Tell Me How to Get to Literacy
Rev. Todd Johnson, Black Boys Read
Chrishawndra Matthews, Literacy in the Hood
This presentation will focus on literacy and reading for youth.
-
Provide information on the lifelong benefits of literacy on positive mental health outcomes .
-
Provide Information on programs that are available in person and in a virtual space to assist youth with literacy.
1:20 pm - 1:50pm
My Minds Playing Tricks on Me - Mental Health and Black Youth:
ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County
This presentation will focus on the impact of COVID 19 restrictions (stay at home order) and the mental health impact on youth.
-
Provide information on the mental harm and challenges faced by our youth during this unprecedented time in our history.
-
Provide Information and resources to help youth maneuver through the hurdles of COVID 19 and beyond.
1:55 pm - 2:55 pm
Table Talk featuring Propaganda
Poet, Political Activist, Husband, Father, Academic and Emcee
This presentation will focus on providing a bold message on the mental impact of activism on youth.
-
Provide information on activism that challenges and guides youth to inspire them through the intersections of life.
-
Provide Information that will stretch the mind and hearts of youth and engage and empower them for positive community change.
Health Promotions
To promote a lifestyle that will empower individuals to make choices that will increase positive health outcomes to reduce the effects of health disparities.
SEPTEMBER
9th Annual Virtual African American Women’s Wellness Walk - Walk 4 R Sista’s
Saturday September 19, 2021
7:30am-9:00am
The African American Women’s Wellness Walk - Walk 4 R Sista’s focuses on the impact of disease, disability and death on African American women and methods to address the leading risk factors. The walk targets African American women because they are mainly responsible for all medical decisions that impact the members of their household. The walk will feature medical screening and community resources.
Goal:
-
To educate women on the problems associated with obesity.
-
To empower women with the tools that they need to begin to live healthier lifestyles.
-
To advocate for programs that focus on the social determinants of obesity (etc. stress, mental health, economic, genetic, and environmental)
https://linerlegal.com/northeast-ohio-black-health-coalition
NOVEMBER
Virtual Urban Community CPR
November, 2021
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition provides CPR classes in low income communities. Researchers found a "direct relationship" between household income and racial composition of the neighborhood, where the odds of having a bystander perform CPR were 50% lower in low-income black neighborhoods than high-income non-black neighborhoods.
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition in partnership with Black Nurses Rock, National
Council of Negro Women, Hope Community Services of Youngstown and the Warren City Health Department provides youth training on hands-only CPR.
Goal:
-
To educate and train the community on CPR.
-
To empower the community with the tools needed to assist in case of emergency
-
To advocate for continuous training on various issues in the community
COVID-19 RESPONSE PROJECTS
MARCH-DECEMBER
Babies and Brunch Project/Meals 4 Mommas/Delivering Hope
March, 2021-December, 2021
Goal: To purchase healthy fresh and shelf-stable foods to provide a month worth of groceries for families isolated due to disability, economic hardship, domestic violence and pandemic restrictions.
How: Programming includes systemic change through coalition-building and advocacy; education/awareness campaigns; reducing social isolation; and food/PPE distribution during the pandemic crisis. NEOBHC stepped-up to fill a gap in food access when Ohio’s schools were closed in March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. Hearing from families who could not get to food distribution sites within Cleveland Municipal School District and neighboring communities, NEOBHC in real-time created the Babies & Brunch program to deliver 5 days a week of breakfasts and lunches to families isolated due to disability, whose children would go hungry without their daily meals at school. This gap-stop has sustained due to the commitment of volunteers, donors, and community partnership. The program has now expanded to include isolated and underserved Black and Brown pregnant women, who are at higher risk for pregnancy complications and infant mortality. NEOBHC has expanded food access to families who could not access school-based *and* food bank distributions (the food bank does not deliver to non-elderly).
This volunteer led food delivery effort has provided 70,000 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) to families that are most in need since March. The families receive a monthly supply of provisions including face-masks, soap, tissue and hand sanitizer. The provision includes a menu for each day that provides the supplements children need for proper brain growth and development.
Research and Evaluation
Bring awareness to the effects of racism on the health outcomes of African American people through the development and implementation of research programs and initiatives. Evaluation of programming that addresses research findings that negatively affect African American communities.
https://sites.google.com/case.edu/cwruopioidmeeting2020/webinar-recordings-and-slides?authuser=0
FINAL_PAIL Report_09302019_copy.pdf
Workshops
Effectively Engaging the African American Community the Art of Community Engagement
Trainings
Mental Health First Aid
First Aid Certification Course
Sustainability
To raise money to support the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition we will continue to apply for grants, seek donations through Benevity, Facebook, Venmo, Givify, PayPal, Cash App, Go Fund Me and through membership dues including sustaining members.
DONATE TODAY
TESTIMONIALS
The following are the texts from Babies and Brunch participants after receiving their bags
Thanks so much for this food.. What a blessing! I am very greatful for what you guys have done for my children during this school shutdown days! I pray that each of you will be blessed so much your cups can't be big enough to hold! God's love to you all!
I want you to know that y'all have really helped me and my kids. I don't have a car and I lost my job recently. My kids are so happy when you guys come.
Thank you so much, I don't know what I've would of had did without your help. You have blessed my kids in a way that god showed me you are a real angel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Amen. Praying you will continue to be blessed!
Yes y'all showed out thank you so much
Thank u so much we are truly blessed
Good afternoon, my name is ---- and my daughter --- signed up for your program. My heart have been heavy due to the fact my dad passed and trying to make arrangements. But today I am not experiencing a not so heavy heart because when I came home I saw the generosity of your organization. I know there is a God because He proved to me that there are people like yourself that truly care no matter who that person is you are helping. No, you don't know my story, but I can let you know that you brought tears to my eyes today. I am forever grateful for what you do to those in need. If I can be of any assistance in volunteering or prayers I'm here. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you if it wasn't for you , and your team I wouldn't b able to feed my four kids right now.
I'm Eternally grateful for all of you quys!!!!!!!! Thank you a billion times plus more
Grateful...