Institute for Social Science Research

The CDC Racial and Ethnic Approaches for Community Health Program (REACH) aims to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with highest risk or burden of chronic disease through community-based activities in the areas of 1) nutrition, 2) physical activity, 3) family healthy weight programs, and 4) vaccination programs. The purpose of this project is to incorporate and expand local level strategies and activities to prevent chronic disease and reduce health disparities in Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino persons in the Tuscaloosa County community. To achieve this, a local community coalition leverages longstanding clinical-community partnerships between the Capstone College of Nursing, the Tuscaloosa Public Libraries, the Alabama Department of Public Health, and Tuscaloosa County School System to implement culturally relevant, evidence-based strategies to improve the health of the community.