Community health promotion: The church as partner

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature relative to church-based health promotion programs to assist health professionals in establishing effective prevention alliances with African-American churches. While the literature describing the role of churches, particularly African-American, is limited, the available evidence supports the assertion that many churches are engaged in providing primary prevention, preventive health, and social services to at risk populations. Two mini-cases, illustrative of programs which have been reported in the literature, are presented. What each program had in common is an alliance between ministers, health professionals, and trained church volunteers. Pastors acted as gatekeepers and advocates for a health program. The health professionals served as consultants (particularly in technical design, training, and evaluation). Interested church members, once trained, conducted health programs serving themselves, fellow members, and their community.