UU HBCU Wellness Initiative

The HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Wellness Project is a program that provides training, resources, education, and a skill set to individuals that are interested in becoming Student Health Ambassadors (SHA's). SHA's engages with other students and community residents and collaborates with a variety of organizations, institutions, churches, and more with the sole purpose - to promote change in behavior, attitude, and knowledge.

The Wellness Initiative is an intervention and prevention program that is designed to utilize the social and human capital of young adults in college communities to promote wellness and health and reduce risks for chronic diseases in colleges and surrounding communities. The ultimate goal of the Unique Unity HBCU Wellness Initiative is to provide reliable resources and leverage education at HBCU's to positively impact the well-being of college students.

Our OBJECTIVES

- Conduct needs-based assessments for campuses and local communities

- Enhance the capacity of ambassadors to integrate learning into the curriculum.

- Recruit, train, guide, and support Student Health Ambassadors to develop wellness and health projects to promote change and readiness.

- Assess both short and long-term outcomes of service-learning activities in communities of color.

- Develop and maintain a streamlining of students of color who are interested in healthcare professions.

Our HBCU's and Partners

The Wellness Initiative began in 2020 at Alabama A&M. Student Health Ambassador, Erianna Sanders lead this initiative and has gained several partnerships. Some of our partnerships include:

B-Condoms, NCSD Condom Connect, Planned Parenthood, local county Health Departments, and more.

Our Student Health Ambassadors

Almost all of our SHA's are full-time students who are attending an HBCU. SHA's have exposure to learning and working with organizations and social services agencies and serve as community change agents. The SHA role has a positive impact on the well-being and health of the underserved community residents in culturally sensitive topics.

Our Focus

Minority communities suffer greatly from chronic diseases that may be preventable. Health inequalities and health disparities result in health inequities. Education on public health prepares students as future healthcare professionals, increases awareness, and creates the capacity for improved health outcomes.

Students who are interested in entering the Healthcare Profession are encouraged to become Student Health Ambassadors, however, this opportunity is not limited to those students. We encourage all students to participate in this initiative because we know and understand the positive impact this program will have on the lives of those involved. We aim to create positive outcomes for all.

Our program aims to use the most reliable and updated resources to ensure that all Student Health Ambassadors have the best information, education, and training. Our program uses several resources which may include but is not limited to the following organizations:

Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality American Association of Kidney Patients American Cancer Society American Dental Association American Diabetes Association American Heart Association American Lung Association American American Stroke Association​Association of Minority Health Professionals Center for Disease Control and Prevention Drug Rehab Exercise & Fitness Health Resources & Services Administration HRSA Maternal & Child Health Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved (JHCUP) Journal of Public Health Men’s Health Network​ MMC Digital Library National Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Organization National Cancer Institute ​National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)National Coalition Against Domestic Violence National Heart Lung & Blood Institute National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive & Kidney Disease (NIDDK)​National Institute of Health National Institute of Mental Health National Kidney Foundation National Medical Association Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (ODPHP) Office of Women’s Health Pub Med Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration​U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Office of Minority Health​

If you are interested in this program, please contact us.