COLLABORATIVE HEALTH-EDUCATION TRAINING FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HEALTH MINISTERS AND PROVIDERS OF COMMUNITY-SERVICES

A 56-hr interdisciplinary ''train-the-trainer'' model was developed fo r lay representatives (health ministers) of African American churches and in-service directors representing health and social service agenci es in northeast Tennessee. Sessions were taught by East Tennessee Stat e University faculty affiliated with the university's Center for Geria trics and Gerontology and the Ohio Valley Appalachia Regional Geriatri c Education Center The content of the workshops included critical issu es in aging, health promotion, and disease prevention for aging Africa n Americans. Workshops took the form of group discussions, games, simu lations, and audiovisual presentations. The program demonstrated posit ive outcomes of increased networking, a new formal linkages, and new r esources within the African American community for health promotion an d disease prevention activities. Problems encountered in implementing this project included the influence of religion on health beliefs, rol e shifts among the health ministers, and the need for cultural compete ncy among service providers.