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History The Black Health Care Coalition began after a committee of the Kansas City Medical Society was formed in 1985 to focus on mentoring African American medical students who had little or no contact with the minority community. The committee found that there was a tremendous need for community health education that was culturally sensitive. The Coalition became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1989. Some of our major accomplishments: • In 1991, the BHCC received a grant from the Office of Minority Health / Department of Health and Human Services to create health screening centers in five local inner-city churches. This project was focused upon early detection of disease as a preventive tool to better health. • In 1994 the BHCC was awarded a grant from the Office of Minority Health grant to develop a model and accompanying manual on “Minority Community Health Coalition Building.” This project was successfully completed and those manuals are being used throughout the country. In addition BHCC was instrumental in assisting two coalitions to get started in California and Nebraska. • Another three year OMH Grant was awarded in 1995 for $450,000 over a three year period to develop and provide culturally sensitive diabetic prevention and awareness programs. This project was also able to provide community education training and empowerment sites. • Concurrent with these projects, BHCC was involved with a Missouri state funded outreach project which targeted African American women for cervical and breast cancer prevention for 10 years. • We have been involved in the Susan G. Komen Foundation Mobile Mammography program since 1998 doing screening of minority women for early detection of breast cancer. • In 2002 BHCC received a multi- grant from the Prime Health Foundation to target high risk males for prostate education and screening. • The Wyandotte Health Foundation has funded BHCC community education and prevention efforts in Wyandotte County, KS, including urban comprehensive preventive health care that educated children as well as adults. . • We were also involved with planning for the national STEPS project (a Ford/United Auto Workers Foundation project). • The organization presents an annual conference with tracts for physicians, nurses, social workers and youth. Periodic awards banquets and medical symposia are also presented. |
