Focusing on Health: An Evaluation of NYHealth’s Faith-based Diabetes Programming

Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

Grantee Name

New York Academy of Medicine

Funding Area

Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

Publication Date

April 2014

Grant Amount

$59,557

Grant Date:

March 2011 – July 2013

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Diabetes prevalence in New York State has doubled since 1994 and is expected to grow: 1.8 million New Yorkers suffer from diabetes and 4.5 million others have prediabetes, a condition that puts them at high risk for developing the disease.

Annual disease-related costs for the State are estimated to be $12.9 billion. The epidemic affects individuals’ health and takes a toll on health care institutions, health plans, and the State’s budget.

To address this crisis, the New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) invested in a $35 million diabetes campaign with the goal of reversing the epidemic. The NYHealth Diabetes Campaign started in 2008 and focused on improving clinical care and patient outcomes; mobilizing communities to prevent diabetes and support diabetes self-management; and promoting policies that sustain comprehensive and effective care for people with diabetes.

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Summarized its findings in the report: “Focusing on Health: Final Report to the New York Health Foundation—Faith Fights Diabetes Focus Group Findings;” and
Informed IFL’s third year of programming with the results of the report.

After completing the report, NYAM reported a small amount of unspent grant funds, which were reallocated to:

Plan, implement, and analyze focus groups with black and Latino men;
Hold a meeting and discussion with black and Latino community leaders with knowledge regarding engagement of men in health promotion activities; and
Develop a collaborative proposal to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is focused on tailoring the National Diabetes Prevention Program to better engage black and Latino men.

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