living-well-lowndes-county

“Graduates” from a Lowndes County Living Well Alabama 6-week course.

Living Well Alabama is a Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) program that is evidence based through Stanford University. The program is a 6-week series of weekly classes that equips participants with the necessary tools needed to manage their chronic condition(s). It teaches real-life skills for living a healthy life and preventive measures to avoid or delay the onset of chronic disease(s).

This education program teaches management for diabetes, arthritis, asthma, obesity and heart disease. To help manage these chronic conditions participants learn proper nutrition, safe physical activity, proper medication usage, tips for eating well, goal setting and the importance of effective communication with their health care providers.

The Wellness Coalition partnered with five churches to train and implement the Living Well Alabama CDSME program:

  • Mary Magdalene Baptist Church in Macon County
  • Washington Chapel AME Church in Macon County
  • First Missionary Baptist of White Hall in Lowndes County
  • Bethlehem Christian Church in Lowndes County
  • Impact Christian Church in Montgomery County
These churches designated two or three members from their congregation to attend a 4-day training to become Lay Leaders. After training certification was completed, these Lay Leaders taught 13 rounds of classes, which empowered 141 individuals to be active managers of their health.

These individuals viewed the classes to be very helpful in helping them understand their chronic condition. Participants expressed their gratefulness in being apart of a program that helped them to take small steps toward a long term goal. Many participants credit this program to the increase awareness of their overall health, including weight and proper nutrition.

Nonprofits who wish to enhance the public services they currently offer by participating in Community Health Worker Training should call Latrice Lewis at 334-293-6502 or visit www.thewellnesscoalition.org/community to learn more.