The African American Health Program (AAHP) was created and funded in 1999 by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The mission of AAHP is to eliminate health disparities and improve the number and quality of years of life for African Americans and people of African descent in Montgomery County.
The program focuses on six major areas which include infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, oral health, cardiovascular disease and specific cancers. Included in the services are outreach, health education, support groups and nurse case management services. While the program's offerings are available to all interested residents, the focus audience is the African American/Black residents of the county. The program is staffed by Registered Nurses, Health Educators and Community Outreach Workers.
While many of the program's clients have private insurers and other private resources, other participants currently or may possibly avail themselves in the future of Montgomery County's Department of Health and Human Services. For instance many of the mothers followed by the S.M.I.L.E. program project have received or continue to receive services through DHHS.
- Registered Nurse case management services to pregnant African American/Black women
and high risk African American/Black newborns - Childbirth Education classes
- Lactation classes
- Smoking cessation classes and one-on -one smoking cessation counseling
- Diabetes self-management classes
- Diabetes dining club
- One -on- one diabetes counseling by a Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator, RN
- HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral by a certified HIV Educator
- Educational activities to male and female groups at high risk for HIV/AIDS
- Nutrition and fitness activities
- Blood pressure screening and referral
- Health fair and conference participation
- Oral, prostate, and breast cancer screening and referral
- Dental services for children