What is REACH 2010?

Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 is a federal initiative launched by the Centers for Disease Control to eliminate disparities in health among persons of color. The program encourages communities to mobilize and organize resources, plan and develop effective, sustainable programs to eliminate leading disparities in health.

The Charlotte REACH 2010 project seeks to prevent heart disease and diabetes among African-Americans in the Northwest Area of Charlotte, North Carolina. The foundation of the program is a Lay Health Advisor program, that draws on the community's "natural helpers," those individuals to whom others turn for advice and support. People who live in a community identify natural helpers, who are then invited to participate in training sessions on health, knowledge of local resources and communication skills. Our program targets risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes through peer education, mentoring by community role models and local health promotion projects.