|: The Cornerstone Ministry :|

Health Advisors/Diabetes Care Project

The Health Advisors/Diabetes Care Project is a partnership between The Cornerstone Ministry, Inc. (TCM), the Pitt County Health Department, the Pitt Partners for Health and a number of “Households of Faith” in Pitt County. Their collaboration has created a culturally sensitive approach and avenue that leads to increased health awareness and behavior modifications in the minority communities.

TCM employs nurses, a recruiter/health trainer and a program coordinator to engage a previously unresponsive community in regular health awareness activities and in establishing Pitt Foundation’s Wellness Center in local churches. These health professionals train, encourage and support lay-health advisors in organizing and promoting community-based “diabetes awareness” clusters.

The collaboration started in October of 2000 with TCM agreeing to provide contracted services for the Pitt County Health Department (PCHD). They had received funding through the Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation (PMHF) for their Diabetes CARE Project.. We continued the same relationship for the next fiscal year further extending our collaboration by establishing an indigent fund to be administered by Philippi Church of Christ in assisting with diabetes clients.

In 2002, we were encouraged by PCHD to become the lead agency in the upcoming funding year with them providing contract services. We were successful in securing a grant from PMHF for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003. We received additional funding from PMHF for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005.

		Health Advisors/Diabetes Care Project The Health Advisors/Diabetes Care Project is a partnership between The Cornerstone Ministry, Inc. (TCM), the Pitt County Health Department, the Pitt Partners for Health and a number of “Households of Faith” in Pitt County. Their collaboration has created a culturally sensitive approach and avenue that leads to increased health awareness and behavior modifications in the minority communities. TCM employs nurses, a recruiter/health trainer and a program coordinator to engage a previously unresponsive community in regular health awareness activities and in establishing Pitt Foundation’s Wellness Center in local churches. These health professionals train, encourage and support lay-health advisors in organizing and promoting community-based “diabetes awareness” clusters. The collaboration started in October of 2000 with TCM agreeing to provide contracted services for the Pitt County Health Department (PCHD). They had received funding through the Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation (PMHF) for their Diabetes CARE Project.. We continued the same relationship for the next fiscal year further extending our collaboration by establishing an indigent fund to be administered by Philippi Church of Christ in assisting with diabetes clients. In 2002, we were encouraged by PCHD to become the lead agency in the upcoming funding year with them providing contract services. We were successful in securing a grant from PMHF for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003. We received additional funding from PMHF for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005.