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| COACH 1: A Pilot Study for HIV Health Disparities |
| “Counseling on Adherence and Community Health” at the Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity |
| Community-based health promotion to reduce HIV health disparities |
 Compliant HIV positive persons can live long healthy lives. The COACH study targets HIV+ adults struggling with adherence issues. Patients failing in treatment are eligible to be assigned a community health promoter who provides support and home based counseling. Specific health promotion services include assistance navigating the health care system, obtaining medical and social service benefits, understanding medications, and educating patients about managing their illness to achieve optimal health outcomes. The study protocol randomizes eligible participants into a control or intervention group to test the effects of health promotion on HIV outcomes. Health promotion activities for the intervention group may help patients achieve an undetectable viral load and reduce opportunistic infections, emergency room visits, and other preventable complications of HIV infection. If the study is successful, the data will be used to advocate for health promotion services to become part of the public health benefits for HIV-infected persons in Miami. |
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| COACH 2: Community-Based Experience |
| “Counseling on Accessing Community Health” with students in the Jay Weiss Social Medicine Pathway |
| Service-learning experience on social determinants of health disparities |
| Medical students in the Jay Weiss Social Medicine Pathway are teamed with community health promoters to develop a practical understanding of social dynamics that contribute to health disparities in Overtown. This service-learning experience facilitates opportunities for medical students to help underserved populations access public health benefits, provide culturally relevant health seminars and design health services for specific communities. Each medical health promotion team aims to develop an understanding of the social dynamics that contribute to health disparities in Overtown and provide culturally-relevant responses that address emerging issues. |
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| ACCESS Miami |
| A comprehensive resource guide for people with disabilities |
Health disparities are significant among disabled populations. In 2003 Miami had one of the largest populations of people with disabilities in the U.S. and was without a comprehensive resource guide that detailed agencies and venues accessible to disabled individuals. ACCESS Miami was developed to offer disabled residents a comprehensive resource listing, including categories of employment, advocacy, sports & recreation, wheelchair van rentals and more. Dedicated to assisting underserved populations achieve optimal health, the Jay Weiss Center is now sponsoring future editions of ACCESS Miami and the third edition is expected to publish within the next year. |
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