Developing and implementing a Healthy Heart program for women in a parish setting

Designed for implementation in a parish setting, the "Hearts To God" project integrates spirituality, stewardship, and wholeness into a cardiovascular health promotion program. This program fills a health education void regarding cardiovascular disease and women. The program and accompanying manual incorporate heart healthy education with a spirituality message to encourage behavior change. It can be adapted to suit the educational context and adult population. Exercises included in the manual enable women to assess, develop, and evaluate their own plan for heart health. Participants found the program to be relevant.