Faith, Health and Family Collaborative
The Faith, Health and Family Collaborative provides services, health information and resources to faith-based organizations.
The church setting is a central aspect of community among many African Americans and has been recognized as an integral component of delivering health promotion and prevention services to this community. Roughly half of African Americans reported attending church weekly, making this a unique setting for collaboration and education. Church-based interventions, including those developed collaboratively with academic institutions, can be successful in improving health behaviors among African Americans. Previous research has confirmed that partnering with churches can result in an increase in physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, cancer screening, etc.
The goals of the Faith, Health and Family Collaborative are to:
- Enhance an existing faith-based-academic partnership to address family obesity in the African American community.
- Strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities of collaborators and the local community, through resource connection opportunities, to address family obesity.
- Assess the interest of congregations and communities in obesity and related behaviors in African Americans.
- Develop a community-driven research agenda focused on addressing African American family obesity in faith-based settings.
Contact Us
faithhealthandfamily@mdanderson.org
Services
Adult Interviews
We're conducting interviews with pastors, church leaders and parents to learn more information about obesity, health programs and other priority health issues related to the church and community. Participants will be compensated with a $20 gift card for their time.
Eligibility Criteria
Pastors and Church staff:
- Be able to provide information about church activities related to health
- Have a working telephone number
Families:
- Self-reported African American race
- Be a father or mother of a child between the ages of 9-15 years old
- Have a working telephone number
Please contact us if you or your church is interested in participating in an interview.
Youth Town Halls
Youth Town Halls are informal conversations with youth, ages 9 to 15 years, to learn more about their perspectives on healthy eating and physical activity, as well as church and community health programs that would be of interest to them.
A special thank you to New Faith Church and Greenspoint Baptist Church for hosting youth town hall sessions this summer!
Please contact us if your church is interested in hosting a youth town hall.
Partnerships
- Baker Harrell
- BakerRipley
- Brighter Bites
- Campaign to end Obesity
- CAN DO Houston
- Defender Network
- Go Healthy Houston
- Harbach-Ripley Health and Wellness Neighborhood Center
- HEALTH Research Institute
- Healthy Living Matters
- Houston Area Urban League
- Houston Food Bank
- Houston Museum of African American Culture
- Hunger Free Texans
- It's Time Texas
- Jafrican Fitness
- Jerry Davis
- Kids Meals Inc
- Kingdom Builders' Center
- Live Smart Texas
- Loving Houston
- Obesity Action Coalition
- ProUnitas
- Recipe for Success
- Texas Obesity Research Center
- The Obesity Society
- The Wyms Foundation
- TX Health Institute
- Urban Harvest
Our Team
Staff
Lorna McNeill
Chair, Health Disparities Research
Crystal Roberson
Program Manager
Chloe Dorsey
Program Coordinator
Kamisha Escoto
Program Director
Cassandra Harris
Health Education Manager
Alba Calzada
Research Manager
Advisory Board
Ann Thompson - Zeta Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc
Ashley Butler - Baylor College of Medicine; Texas Children's Hospital
Beverly Gor - City of Houston Health & Human Services; CAN DO Houston
Betty Stewart - Windsor Village UMC
Claire Shynett - Mental Health Representative
Dawn Burton - Cooperative Extension - Prairie View
Debbe Thompson - Baylor College of Medicine
Ebonee Hayward - Peer Educator with Honey Child
Francine Huckaby - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gale Kennebrew - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Helen George - Community Representative
J. Hoxi Jones - Spirit of Health - Riverside United Methodist Church
Jamie Freeny - Harris Health
Karen Cullen - Baylor College of Medicine (Retired)
Lawanna Hart - New Faith Church, Zeta Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc
Sandra Cooper - AHEC (Greater Houston)
Sharon Livingston - Spirit of Health - Greenspoint Baptist Church
Tamara Callis - Harris health
Tony Dale - Harris County Precinct One
Current Events
Faith, Health and Family Collaborative Newsletter
Recommended Resources
Our Collaborative in Action

Fallbrook Victor and Warriors Gala

Pastor’s Health Panel

New Faith Women’s Health Fair