Black Health Initiative’s Healthy Street (BHI-HS) is a community engagement model designed to increase UCSF’s impact within under-served Black/African American communities. The model is delivered through a community engagement pop-up that redefines what a street/community-based care experience can look like. The Healthy Street is designed to increase access to:
- Free non-COVID related health services including medical and behavioral services
- Healthy foods including organic produce giveaway, education, ways to address food insecurity
- Cultural healing experiences
- Free physical activity and tips to do easily in daily life
- Technology and Health Q+A and information
- Community partnerships
- Referrals to care as needed and desired
- Access to UCSF resources and programs
- COVID-19 education, resources, and services
Healthy Street Pillars:
- Heart Health – screenings and health information related to heart disease and related conditions including hypertension, diabetes, and more
- Spiritual Wellness – behavioral and spiritual health – the mind, body, & spirit connection
- Healthy Eating – healthy eating including in culturally tailored manner e.g. ingredient swaps, food as medicine, ways to address food insecurity, and more
- COVID-19 Health – prevention, testing, vaccination efforts and more of the latest information
- Lifestyle Health – sexual health, physical health, technology & health, workforce opportunities, and more
Where, When, Why
Healthy Street focuses on Black/African American communities in San Francisco that often go unserved. Communities include Western Addition, Potrero Hill, Oceanview Merced Ingleside (OMI) and Sunnydale. The engagement model is designed to:
- Build a bridge of trust between the medical community and African American communities
- Provide culturally relevant health services
- Advance the conversation on how we can prepare for post-COVID realities
- Promote UCSF research opportunities that could benefit from community advice/input
- Share UCSF clinical, research, and workforce opportunities that could benefit the community
Healthy streets will be open to people of all ages, occurring once a month.
We actively recruit volunteers reflective of the community to provide a culturally appealing experience, although all are welcome.